Spin-Exchange Collisions in the K–Li System

Abstract

Spin-exchange cross sections and the magnetic-resonance frequency shift in collision of lithium and potassium atoms in the ground state have been calculated for the first time. The cross sections are calculated based on the data on the singlet (\(X{}^{1}{{\Sigma }^{ + }}\)) and triplet (\(a{}^{3}{{\Sigma }^{ + }}\)) interaction potentials of ³⁹K⁷Li dimer. A passage from the energy dependences to the temperature ones of the real and imaginary parts of the complex spin-exchange cross section yields information about both the broadening of the magnetic resonance line of the atoms under study and the magnetic-resonance frequency shift in their collision.