The effect of the electron spin on angular momentum transfer in Na*(32 P 3/2)+Na+ collisions — crossed beam experiment and semiclassical calculation

The angular momentum transfer between electronic and heavy particle motion has been studied for inelastic collisions of laser state-prepared Na*(3² P _3/2,M _J ) with Na⁺ leading to Na*(3² D) or Na(3² S) in the energy rangeE _cm=5?47.5 eV. The measurements are compared to semiclassical calculations employing the coupled channel method in the impact parameter approximation but including dynamics of the electron spin coupling to the heavy particle motion.