Scattering experiments on interactions of excited atoms: Differential cross sections of the system Na (3P)+K(4S)

Differential scattering of Na 3S $sub 1$ / $sub 2$ and 3P $sub 3$ / $sub 2$ from Ne: Determination of ground- and excited-state potentials for NaNeDifferential scattering of Na 3S$sub 1$/$sub 2$ and 3P$sub 3$/$sub 2$ from Ne: Determination of ground- and excited-state potentials for NaNe

Gary M. Carter, David E. Pritchard, M. L. Kaplan +1 more

We report high-resolution measurements of the differential cross section for scattering Na in its 3S $sub 1$ / $sub 2$ and 3P $sub 3$ / $sub 2$ states from Ne. A new scheme is used to maintain a high fraction (approx.20%) of an atomic beam of Na in the excited state for many radiative lifetimes using a single-mode cw dye laser. The differential cross sections are interpreted to yield interatomic potential curves for both the X $Sigma$ and APi states of the NaNe molecule which seriously disagree with recent pseudopotential calculations. (AIP)We report high-resolution measurements of the differential cross section for scattering Na in its 3S$sub 1$/$sub 2$ and 3P$sub 3$/$sub 2$ states from Ne. A new scheme is used to maintain a high fraction (approx.20%) of an atomic beam of Na in the excited state for many radiative lifetimes using a single-mode cw dye laser. The differential cross sections are interpreted to yield interatomic potential curves for both the X$Sigma$ and APi states of the NaNe molecule which seriously disagree with recent pseudopotential calculations. (AIP)

Physical Review LettersOct 27, 19750 citations

Electron scattering from the optically prepared 3P state of sodium

Max Shurgalin

An experimental investigation of electron - impact induced transitions from the laser - excited 3P state of sodium atom to the 4S and 3D excited states is presented, the main objective being measurement of the atomic collision parameters ( ACPs ) that are related to individual scattering amplitudes. These parameters are complementary to the differential excitation cross - sections and provide finer details on the collisional excitation process. The experiment involved the preparation of the 3P - state with coherent laser radiation of a particular polarisation and measuring the rate of electrons scattered from the laser - excited state as function of laser polarisations. The ACPs were then deduced from these measurements and optical pumping parameters, which account for the optical preparation of the 3P - state. To formulate different measurement schemes, a measurement theory based on the general description of transitions between states of different angular momentum using density matrix formalism is derived. The investigation of the 3P - 4S transition is very similar to the studies of the 3S - 3P excitation performed by superelastic method involving the 3P - 3S scattering in the 'time - inverse' geometry. 'Standard' ACPs are used and, similarly to the superelastic method, the measurements for the 3P - 4S excitation performed in the 'time - inverse' geometry also reveal ACPs for the 4S - 3P de -excitation process. For the more complex 3P - 3D transition, however, the 'standard' ACPs may be less informative. It is shown that certain sums of individual magnetic sublevel excitation probabilities can be measured which may be considered as atomic collision parameters for transitions between P and D - states.An experimental investigation of electron - impact induced transitions from the laser - excited 3P state of sodium atom to the 4S and 3D excited states is presented, the main objective being measurement of the atomic collision parameters ( ACPs ) that are related to individual scattering amplitudes. These parameters are complementary to the differential excitation cross - sections and provide finer details on the collisional excitation process. The experiment involved the preparation of the 3P - state with coherent laser radiation of a particular polarisation and measuring the rate of electrons scattered from the laser - excited state as function of laser polarisations. The ACPs were then deduced from these measurements and optical pumping parameters, which account for the optical preparation of the 3P - state. To formulate different measurement schemes, a measurement theory based on the general description of transitions between states of different angular momentum using density matrix formalism is derived. The investigation of the 3P - 4S transition is very similar to the studies of the 3S - 3P excitation performed by superelastic method involving the 3P - 3S scattering in the 'time - inverse' geometry. 'Standard' ACPs are used and, similarly to the superelastic method, the measurements for the 3P - 4S excitation performed in the 'time - inverse' geometry also reveal ACPs for the 4S - 3P de -excitation process. For the more complex 3P - 3D transition, however, the 'standard' ACPs may be less informative. It is shown that certain sums of individual magnetic sublevel excitation probabilities can be measured which may be considered as atomic collision parameters for transitions between P and D - states.

Jan 1, 19980 citations

Collisional depolarization of excited sodium atoms

M. Elbel, B. Kamke, Werner B. Schneider

PhysicaOct 1, 197418 citations

Collisional excitation of Na-Rydberg atoms

Kriti Batra, Vinod Prasad, Man Mohan

The European Physical Journal DAug 1, 20022 citations

Differential scattering of Na 3S

sub 1

sub 2

and 3P

sub 3

sub 2

from Ne: Determination of ground- and excited-state potentials for NaNe

We report high-resolution measurements of the differential cross section for scattering Na in its 3S

sub 1

sub 2

and 3P

sub 3

sub 2

states from Ne. A new scheme is used to maintain a high fraction (approx.20%) of an atomic beam of Na in the excited state for many radiative lifetimes using a single-mode cw dye laser. The differential cross sections are interpreted to yield interatomic potential curves for both the X

Sigma

and APi states of the NaNe molecule which seriously disagree with recent pseudopotential calculations. (AIP)