Alignment effects in Ca–He(5 1P1–5 3P J) energy transfer collisions by far wing laser scattering

Abstract

The far wing absorption profiles for excitation on the Ca(4s2 1S0–4s5p 1P01) atomic transition, broadened in collisions with He are measured. We observe strong absorption in both wings and a blue wing satellite near Δ∼125 cm−1. We tentatively identify this satellite as due to a maximum in the CaHe(4s2 1∑+–4s5p 1∑+) difference potential. These line-broadening techniques are used to study electronic energy transfer in the spin-changing collisions of Ca with He: Ca(5p 1P01) +He→Ca(5p 3P0J)+He+ΔE. Measurements of the ‘‘single collision’’ triplet–singlet branching ratio as a function of laser detuning from the atomic resonance frequency indicate a clear red wing/blue wing asymmetry. We interpret this asymmetry in terms of a preferential orbital alignment effect in the energy transfer process [Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 2296 (1984)]. No clear structure is observed in the range of detunings probed that might indicate the curve crossing responsible for the energy transfer.