ORIENTATION AND ALIGNMENT RELAXATION OF THE P-32 STATES OF SODIUM MEASURED AT HIGH VAPOR DENSITIES

Orientation and alignment relaxation cross sections have been obtained for the 3P122 and 3P322 states of sodium by measuring resonance broadening of Hanle-effect signals at vapor densities up to about 1015 atoms/cm3. In order to avoid reabsorption of the resonantly scattered light, the Hanle effect is measured in a region close to the wall of a specially constructed vapor cell. The width of the Hanle-effect signals is found to vary linearly with vapor density. The resulting cross sections for orientation and alignment relaxation are compared with theory. © 1979 The American Physical Society.