J. Physique Lett. 41, 275-278 (1980)
DOI: 10.1051/jphyslet:019800041012027500

Study of velocity-changing collisions by time resolved saturated absorption

M. Gorlicki, A. Peuriot et M. Dumont

Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Université Paris-Nord, 93430 Villetaneuse, France

Abstract
By use of two stabilized CW dye lasers and of electrooptic choppers we have developed an experimental set-up which combines the advantages of high frequency resolution and time resolved spectroscopy. We use this set-up to study the velocity thermalization of 1s3 metastable neon atoms. The collision kernel appears to be constituted of two components. The first one is broad and asymmetric, the second one is narrow and symmetric.

Résumé
L'usage de deux lasers à colorant continus, stabilisés, et de modulateurs électrooptiques permet de combiner les avantages de la spectroscopie à haute résolution et de la spectroscopie résolue en temps. Ce montage est utilisé pour l'étude de la thermalisation des vitesses d'atomes métastables de néon (1s3). Le noyau de collision apparaît formé de deux composantes, l'une large et asymétrique, l'autre étroite et symétrique.

PACS
0765 - Optical spectroscopy and spectrometers.
3150 - Excited states of atoms and molecules.
3450 - Inelastic scattering of atoms and molecules.
3580 - Atomic and molecular measurements and techniques.

Key words
atomic inelastic collisions -- atomic metastable states -- neon -- optical saturable absorption -- time resolved spectroscopy -- time resolved saturated absorption -- stabilized CW dye lasers -- electrooptic choppers -- high frequency resolution -- time resolved spectroscopy -- velocity thermalization -- collision kernel -- velocity changing collisions -- 1s sub 3 metastable atoms -- Ne atoms