Homonuclear ionizing collisions of laser-cooled metastable helium atoms

R.J.W. Stas, J.M. McNamara, W. Hogervorst, W. Vassen

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We present a theoretical and experimental investigation of homonuclear ionizing collisions of laser-cooled metastable (2 S13) helium atoms, considering both the fermionic He3 and bosonic He4 isotopes. The theoretical description combines quantum threshold behavior, Wigner's spin-conservation rule, and quantum-statistical symmetry requirements in a single-channel model, complementing a more complete close-coupling theory that has been reported for collisions of metastable He4 atoms. The model is supported with measurements (in the absence of light fields) of ionization rates in magneto-optically trapped samples that contain about 3× 108 atoms of a single isotope. The ionization rates are determined from measurements of trap loss due to light-assisted collisions combined with comparative measurements of the ion production rate in the absence and presence of trapping light. Theory and experiment show good agreement. © 2006 The American Physical Society.
Original languageEnglish
Article number032713
JournalPhysical Review A. Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume2006
Issue number73
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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