Experimental investigation of atomic collisions in time scales varying from nanosecond to microseconds

Abstract

We present the results from two experiments investigating collisions that differ in time scale by three orders of magnitude. The first experiment enables the determination of absolute total collision cross sections using a technique that measures a change in the loss rate of trapped atoms from a magneto optical trap (MOT). We also investigate light assisted collision processes between cold metastable neon atoms in the 3P2 metastable state within the MOT. A catalysis laser is scanned in frequency across the 3P2 – 3D3 cooling transition and the ionization rate was observed. Ionization spectra are obtained which demonstrate a dependence on the magnetic sublevels of the transition that the catalysis laser is exciting.