Spin-destruction collision

In atomic physics, a spin-destruction (or spin-disorientation) collision is a physical impact where the spin angular momentum of an atom is irretrievably scrambled.

This type of collision can be a significant spin relaxation mechanism for polarized alkali metal vapor. In particular, the relaxation rate of alkali metal atoms in SERF atomic magnetometers is dominated by spin-destruction collisions.

Spin-destruction cross sections[1]
σsd,self σsd,He σsd,Ne σsd,N2
K 1 × 10−18 cm2[2] 8 × 10−25 cm2[3]
Rb 9 × 10−18 cm2[3] 9 × 10−24 cm2[3] 5.2 × 10−23 cm2[4] 1 × 10−22 cm2[5]
Cs 2 × 10−16 cm2[6] 3 × 10−23 cm2[7] 6 × 10−22 cm2[7]

References

  1. ↑ Allred, J. C., Lyman, R. N., Kornack, T. W., Romalis, M. V. (2002). "High-Sensitivity Atomic Magnetometer Unaffected by Spin-Exchange Relaxation". Physical Review Letters. 89 (13): 130801. Bibcode:2002PhRvL..89m0801A. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.130801. PMID 12225013.
  2. ↑ E. Vliegen, S. Kadlecek, L. W. Anderson, T. G. Walker, C. J. Erickson and W. Happer (2001). "Faraday rotation density measurements of optically thick alkali metal vapors". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A. 460 (2–3): 444–450. Bibcode:2001NIMPA.460..444V. doi:10.1016/S0168-9002(00)01061-5.
  3. 1 2 3 A. Ben-Amar Baranga; S. Appelt; M. V. Romalis; C. J. Erickson; A. R. Young; G. D. Cates & W. Happer (1998). "Faraday rotation density measurements of optically thick alkali metal vapors". Physical Review Letters. 80 (13): 2801–2804. Bibcode:1998PhRvL..80.2801B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.2801.
  4. ↑ W. Franzen (1959). "Spin Relaxation of Optically Aligned Rubidium Vapor". Physical Review. 115 (4): 850–856. Bibcode:1959PhRv..115..850F. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.115.850.
  5. ↑ M. E. Wagshul & T. E. Chupp (1994). "Laser optical pumping of high-density Rb in polarized 3He targets". Physical Review A. 49 (5): 3854–3869. Bibcode:1994PhRvA..49.3854W. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.49.3854.
  6. ↑ N. D. Bhaskar; J. Pietras; J. Camparo; W. Happer & J. Liran (1980). "Spin Destruction in Collisions between Cesium Atoms". Physical Review Letters. 44 (14): 930–933. Bibcode:1980PhRvL..44..930B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.44.930.
  7. 1 2 N. Beverini; P. Minguzzi & F. Strumia (1971). "Foreign-Gas-Induced Cesium Hyperfine Relaxation". Physical Review A. 4 (2): 550–555. Bibcode:1971PhRvA...4..550B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.4.550.


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