CROSS-SECTION MEASUREMENT FOR THE ENERGY POOLING COLLISIONS - CD(5P P-3(1))-3(1))-]CD(5D D-3(J))+CD(5S S-1(0))(CD(5P P)

Energy pooling collisions of two cadmium atoms in the state 5s5p P-3(1 ) have been investigated under pulsed laser excitation and cross secti ons have been measured for the production of atoms in the 5s5d D-3(J) states. We have obtained the values (1.3 +/- 0.6) X 10(-16), (1.1 +/- 0.5) X 10(-16), and (0.7 +/- 0.4) X 10(-16) cm(2) for J = 1,2,3, respe ctively. The effects of the radiation trapping phenomenon, important b oth in the cross-section determination and in the evaluation of the Cd atom density in the sealed cell used in the experiment, have been tak en into account through numerical solutions of the radiation diffusion equation in the specific conditions of our experiment.