ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The Ca(4p2 1D2) state is prepared in a two-step excitation with linearly polarized lasers. Two different angular wave functions are selected, Y2,0 or (Y2,−1−Y2,1)/, by using parallel or perpendicular laser polarizations, respectively. Subsequent collision with a rare gas atom (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, or Xe) populates the near-resonant Ca(3d4p 1F3) state. The dependence of the collisional energy transfer process is measured as a function of the alignment of the initial 1D2 state wave function with respect to the average relative velocity vector. The laser-selected Y2,0 and (Y2,−1−Y2,1)/ angular wave functions display dramatically different alignment dependences, which are understood by an analysis of the rotation properties of these wave functions. The relative contributions to the cross section of the individual 1D2 sublevels, ML=0, ±1, and ±2, are extracted, and these vary considerably depending on the rare gas. For He, the ML=±2 sublevel (asymptotic Δ molecular state) contributes the most to the total cross section, while for all the other rare gases, the ML=0, ±1 sublevels (asymptotic Σ and Π molecular states, respectively) are more important. The contribution of the ML=0 sublevel increases smoothly with increasing mass of the rare gas collision partner, becoming the largest contributor for Xe.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.458532
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