ON THEORY OF SCATTERING OF EXCITED ALKALI ATOMS BY INERT GAS ATOMS

Calculations of the cross sections for collision-induced transitions between Zeeman sublevels of excited alcali atoms are proposed, which are independent from dynamical models. 1. Supposing that the spin of the valence electron does not flip, the transition matrix, describing collision-induced deorientation of the orbital angular momentum, is analysed considering invariance principles only. Consequently the cross sections for depolarizing collisions are given by two dynamical parameters. 2. The full transition matrix, describing deorientation of the orbital angular momentum as well as of the spin of the valence electron, is analysed in the same way. In this general case the depolarizing cross sections are given by six dynamical parameters. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.