Collisions of alkali K and Rb atoms in ground state: Modification of interaction potentials

The interaction of alkali K and Rb atoms that reside in the ground state is considered in the range of collision energies E = 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² au. The singlet (X ¹Σ⁺) and triplet (a ³Σ⁺) interaction potentials available in the literature are analyzed and modified. For the KRb dimer in the range of interatomic distances 15–21a ₀, we chose analytical representations of the singlet and triplet potentials that more accurately describe the interaction of alkali Rb and K atoms in the ground state. Complex cross sections of the spin exchange are calculated for the first time that permit one to calculate the processes of polarization transfer and relaxation times, as well as shifts in the magnetic resonance frequencies caused by K-Rb spin exchange collisions.