ROLE OF ROTATIONAL-ENERGY DEFECT IN COLLISIONAL TRANSFER BETWEEN THE 5-P-2(1 2,3/2) LEVELS IN RUBIDIUM/

Steady-state laser-induced fluorescence techniques have been used to s tudy the rates for energy transfer between the 5 P-2(1/2,3/2) levels i n rubidium. The cross sections for collisions with the molecular speci es H-2, D-2, N-2, CH4, and CF4 have been measured as sigma(2)(P-2(1/2) -->P-2(3/2)) = 10.0, 21.4, 13.2, 29.5, and 9.5 x 10(-16) cm(2) and sig ma(1)(P-2(3/2)-->P-2(1/2)) = 13.9, 29.8, 18.4, 41.0, and 13.2 x 10(-16 ) cm(2), respectively. Correlation of transfer probabilities with rota tional-energy defect is demonstrated. these spin-orbit demonstrated.