(1) Instituto de Física de S ao Carlos, Universidade de S ao Paulo, Caixa Postal 369, S ao Carlos SP 13560-970, Brazil, BR
Abstract:
Using a technique that consists in ionizing atoms out of the 5P1/2fragments originated in the cold collision process, we have measured the contribution of the fine structure changing collision
(FS) to the total trap loss rate of cold 85Rb. Our results show that FS contribution is responsible for about 4% of the total trap loss. This result should stimulate
new theoretical discussions involving exoergic cold collisions.
Received 26 October 1998 and Received in final form 2 February 1999