Depolarization and fine structure effects in half collisions of sodium-noble gas systems

Population ratios and polarization of the Na3P _J fine structure states following far wing photon excitation of Na-noble gas collision pairs are studied with respect to the underlying interaction potentials and molecular coupling schemes. For this purpose spectral profiles of these quantities, i.e. its dependencies on excitation frequency, have been measured up to ±200 cm^?1 detuning from the NaD lines for NaAr and NaHe under nearly single collision conditions. Comparing the measured population ratios with quantummechanical coupled channels calculations the Σ potential well depths differ considerably from results of model potential calculations. Large residualJ=3/2 alignment observed in the far wings disagrees with simple models assuming incoherent excitation and/or full adiabatic reorientation of the radiating dipole along straight trajectories. By comparison with Lewis model calculations, using realistic trajectories and decoupling radius, it is found instead, that realistic trajectories are constitutive for alignment after Σ-excitation (blue wing), whereas coherence between the²Π_1/2 and²Π_3/2 states determine primarily alignment after Π-excitation (red wing).