Differential cross sections for the transition K(4
P3/2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4
P1/2) induced by He and Ar have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Calculations were performed using a full quantal close-coupling formalism. The angular distribution of the scattered atoms is measured by Doppler shift (ADDS method). The comparison with the theoretical calculations is performed on the basis of thorough kinematic analysis. In addition, the polarization effects corresponding to the experimental conditions are taken into account carefully. This allows one to test the accuracy of various interaction potentials available for the K-He and -Ar systems. The most interesting result concerns the K-He l-dependent pseudopotentials, which are found accurate to a sufficiently high level to allow good predictions of the observed differential cross-section patterns. In particular the positions and amplitudes of the cross-section oscillations at large center-of-mass scattering angles are well reproduced. The results for Ar show that the K-Ar potentials must be improved. Finally, taking the K(4P)-He fine-structure transition as an example, it has been shown how polarization effects may be used in ADDS measurements to obtain information on the dynamics of the collision process.
The line shape of the Raman transition between metastable levels of neon (
3p0and3p2) is studied as a function of the pressure of a helium buffer gas. Dicke narrowing of the Doppler-broadened nonresonant Raman signal (for large optical detunings) gives the first evidence of conservation of a fine-structure coherence by velocity-changing collisions. Pressure broadening of the resonant Raman signal gives a measurement of the velocity-changing-collision rate.