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arXiv · 0705.0713

Spin-exchange collisions of submerged shell atoms below 1 Kelvin

J. G. E. Harris·S. V. Nguyen·S. C. Doret·W. Ketterle·J. M. Doyle
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Abstract

Angular momentum changing collisions can be suppressed in atoms whose valence electrons are submerged beneath filled shells of higher principle quantum number. To determine whether spin-exchange collisions are suppressed in these "submerged shell" atoms, we measured spin-exchange collisions of six hyperfine states of Mn at temperatures below 1 K. Although the 3d valence electrons in Mn are submerged beneath a filled 4s orbital, we find that the spin exchange rate coefficients are similar to those of Na and H (which are non-submerged shell atoms).

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J. G. E. Harris, S. V. Nguyen, S. C. Doret, W. Ketterle, J. M. Doyle. 2007-05-04. Spin-exchange collisions of submerged shell atoms below 1 Kelvin. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.99.223201

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