Abstract
From the linewidth of the radiofrequency resonance between the Zeeman levels of the 63 P 2 state the lifetimeT m of the metastable Hg atoms in a certain magnetic sublevel was derived as a function of the Hg vapour pressure. The lifetime of the metastable stateT(63 P 2) was determined under the same experimental conditions by optical absorption measurements. In the pressure range from 2·10−3 to 2.4·10−2 mm HgT(63 P 2) was longer thanT m by one to two orders of magnitude. This result means thatT m is only dependent on disorienting collisions and is practically not affected by the collisional destruction of the metastable state. ThusT m is the relaxation time for the disorientation of the metastable atoms by collisions. The pressure dependence of the relaxation time indicates that the disorientation is achieved by two-body collisions with ground state Hg atoms. The disorientation cross section was found to be (2.1±0.2)·10−14 cm2.
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