Eur. Phys. J. D 7, 317-321 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050574

Direct measurement of fine structure changing collisional losses in cold trapped ⁸⁵Rb

Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 369, São Carlos SP 13560-970, Brazil

Received: 26 October 1998
Revised: 2 February 1999
Published online: 15 October 1999

Abstract

Using a technique that consists in ionizing atoms out of the 5P_1/2 fragments originated in the cold collision process, we have measured the contribution of the fine structure changing collision (FS) to the total trap loss rate of cold ⁸⁵Rb. Our results show that FS contribution is responsible for about 4% of the total trap loss. This result should stimulate new theoretical discussions involving exoergic cold collisions.