Binary formation of NaNe quasibound molecules observed in spin relaxation of Na

Abstract

Quasibound NaNe molecules are shown to contribute strongly to the spin relaxation of Na optically pumped in the presence of Ne. Molecules formed in two-body (tunneling) collisions are distinguished from those formed in three-body collisions. The cross section for the collisional breakup of the quasibound complexes has been measured to be 3 ′ ${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$.