‖m l‖ changing in collisions between xenon Rydberg atoms and CO2

Abstract

Thermal energy collisions between xenon Rydberg atoms in n = 31, l≳3, ‖m_l‖≳3 states, and CO₂ are reported. The rate constant is derived for those collisions which result in a change in ‖m_l‖. The value so obtained is similar to that obtained earlier for Xe(nf)–CO₂ collisions resulting in a change in l. It is argued that these observations imply that collisions result in simultaneous changes in l and ‖m_l‖.