Übertragung von Polarisation bei sensibilisierenden Stößen angeregter Natriumatome

The transfer of magnetic polarization between the levels² P _1/2 and² P _3/2 in sensitizing collisions of excited sodium atoms and noble-gas atoms has been studied. Deviating from a previous study on this topic the nuclear spin was now decoupled by means of a strong magnetic field. As a result moreD ₂σ^?-quanta could be detected in the sensitized fluorescence following an excitation withD ₁σ⁺-light. From the measurement of the fluorescence intensitiesI _D1σ± andI _D2σ±, cross-sections peculiar to polarization transfer could be derived. In the case of He and Ne these cross-sections together with the cross-sections of normal sensitizing collisions could be traced back to Grawert's parametera ₁ anda ₂ hence confirming the assumption of the spin being “at rest” during the collision.