Collisions of Lithium Atoms in Ground State. Complex Spin-Exchange Cross Sections

Abstract

Interaction of two polarized lithium atoms (⁷Li) is analyzed. When such atoms collide with each other, spin exchange, i.e., an exchange of electron polarization between colliding atoms, takes place in addition to elastic scattering. Simultaneously with polarization transfer, spin exchange leads to frequency shift of the magnetic resonance of colliding atoms. Based on the data on potentials describing interaction between two lithium atoms, energy dependences of spin-exchange cross section and cross section of frequency shift of magnetic resonance are calculated for the first time.