Technical Physics
Magnetic Resonance Frequency Shift of Na Atoms during Collisions in a Mixture of Potassium and Sodium Atoms
Victor A. Kartoshkin
Abstract
Collisions between sodium and potassium atom in the conditions of optical orientation of potassium atoms are considered. Because of collisions, the spin exchange occurs between colliding atoms, which leads to a magnetic resonance frequency shift of Na atoms. Calculations reveal that the magnetic resonance frequency shift of Na atoms in the upper hyperfine state (F = 2) changes its sign from negative to positive upon an increase in the temperature in the absorption chamber from 300 to 500 K and passes through zero near temperature T ~ 450 K, while the frequency shift of the lower hyperfine state (F = 1) remains negative in the entire range of investigated temperatures. An analogous effect is observed for the first time in the case in which the main contribution to the magnetic resonance frequency shift comes from the spin exchange.