• DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.90.032702
• Corpus ID: 55503165

Properties of the ground 3 F2 state and the excited 3 P0 state of atomic thorium in cold collisions with 3 He

@article{Au2013PropertiesOT,
  title={Properties of the ground 3 F2 state and the excited 3 P0 state of atomic thorium in cold collisions with 3 He},
  author={Yat Shan Au and Colin Bryant Connolly and Wolfgang Ketterle and John M. Doyle},
  journal={Physical Review A},
  year={2013},
  volume={90}
}

• Y. Au, C. Connolly, +1 author J. Doyle
• Published 27 October 2013
• Physics
• Physical Review A

We measure inelastic collisional cross sections for the ground $^3$F$_2$ state and the excited $^3$P$_0$ state of atomic thorium in cold collisions with $^3$He. We determine for Th ($^3$F$_2$) at 800 mK the ratio $\gamma \approx 500$ of the momentum-transfer to Zeeman relaxation cross sections for collisions with $^3$He. For Th ($^3$P$_0$), we study electronic inelastic processes and find no quenching even after $10^6$ collisions. We also determine the radiative lifetime of Th ($^3$P$_0$) to be $\tau > 130$ ms. This great stability of the metastable state opens up the possibility for further study, including trapping.