Enhancement of Rb Fine-Structure Transfer in ⁴He Due to Three-Body Collisions

Authors

Jerry F. Sell, U.S. Air Force AcademyFollow
M. Alina Gearba, University of Southern MississippiFollow
B.M. Patterson, U.S. Air Force AcademyFollow
T. Genda, U.S. Air Force Academy
B. Naumann, U.S. Air Force Academy
Randall J. Knize, U.S. Air Force AcademyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2010

Department

Physics and Astronomy

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

Using ultrafast laser excitation and time-correlated single-photon counting techniques, we have measured the collisional mixing rates between the rubidium 5²P fine-structure levels in the presence of ⁴He gas. A nonlinear dependence of the mixing rate with ⁴He density is observed. We find Rb fine-structure transfer is primarily due to binary collisions at ⁴He densities of ≤10¹⁹cm^-3, while at greater densities, three-body collisions become significant. We determine a three-body collisional transfer rate coefficient (5²P_3/2 → 5²P_1/2) of 1.25(9) × 10^-32cm⁶/s at 22°C.

Publication Title

Optics Letters

Volume

35

Issue

13

First Page

2146

Last Page

2148

Recommended Citation

Sell, J. F., Gearba, M., Patterson, B., Genda, T., Naumann, B., Knize, R. J. (2010). Enhancement of Rb Fine-Structure Transfer in ⁴He Due to Three-Body Collisions. Optics Letters, 35(13), 2146-2148.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/766