Spin-dipole-induced lifetime of the least-bound Σg+5 state of He(2S13)+He(2S13)
Abstract
The properties of the least-bound vibrational level (v=14) of the Σg+5 state formed during the ultracold collision of two spin-polarized metastable 2S13 helium atoms are crucial to studies of photoassociation spectroscopy of metastable helium. We report a calculation of the autoionization lifetime τg of this state induced by spin-dipole coupling of the Σg+5 state to the Σg+1 state from which Penning and associative ionization processes are highly probable. We find τg≈150μs , significantly larger than the recent experimental estimates of (0.5-3)μs .
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- July 2006
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:physics/0604189
- Bibcode:
- 2006PhRvA..74a4702B
- Keywords:
-
- 32.80.Dz;
- 32.70.Jz;
- 32.80.Pj;
- 34.20.Cf;
- Autoionization;
- Line shapes widths and shifts;
- Optical cooling of atoms;
- trapping;
- Interatomic potentials and forces;
- Physics - Atomic Physics
- E-Print:
- REVTEX4, four double-column pages