Sensitized fluorescence in vapors of alkali metals. X. Energy transfer in sodium–sodium collisions

Abstract

The total cross sections for 3 2P1/2–3 2P3/2 mixing collisions between excited and unexcited sodium atoms have been determined in a series of sensitized fluorescence experiments with pure sodium vapor at pressures in the range 0–1.6 × 10−5 mm Hg. The cross section Q2(3 2P1/2 ← 3 2P3/2) was found to be 283 Å2 ± 10%. The cross section Q1(3 2P1/2 → 3 2P3/2) = 532 Å2 was obtained from Q2 through the application of the principle of detailed balancing.