Collisional mixing and quenching cross sections of Cs 6 2 P levels with methane, ethane, and propane

Mixing cross sections of Cs between the 6 2 P 1/2 and 6 2 P 3/2 levels and quenching cross sections from these levels to the ground state 6 2 S 1/2 were measured, with methane, ethane, and propane as collision partners. We excited Cs to the 6 P 3/2 level with a tunable nanosecond pulse laser and measured the fluorescence at the 6 2 P 1/2 level. The measured mixing cross sections with methane, ethane, and propane were (1.39 ± 0.16), (5.67 ± 0.85), and (7.91 ± 0.93)×10 −15 cm 2 , respectively, and the statistically averaged quenching cross sections were (1.5 ± 0.25), (10 ± 2.0), and (25 ± 5.3)×10 −18 cm 2 , respectively. The quenching cross section of Cs-propane is reported for the first time.