Collisional depolarization of light alkali atoms excited to their lowest 2P levels

Abstract

Transition matrix elements connecting the Zeeman sublevels of the lowest p doublets in light alkali atoms have been derived using methods of steady-state collision theory. The matrix elements generally consist of two parts which, under rotations of the quantization axis with respect to the scattering plane, behave like components of a first rank and a second rank tensor, respectively. Only the second rank tensor components lead to the selection rule j, mJ↔j, −mj, whereas the first rank tensor components do not. The latter can be ascribed to a formal interaction term which is proportional to the inner product of the orbital angular momenta of the valence electron and the colliding atoms, respectively, thus accounting for molecular coupling phenomena during the collision. Finally, the transition matrix elements are used to calculate the depolarizing cross sections from the van der Waals potential.