Depolarization Cross Sections for the Metastable Noble Gases by Optical Pumping

The relaxation times of optically oriented metastable atoms of Ne, Ar, and Xe in buffers of noble gases have been measured, and depolarization cross sections obtained. The cross sections range from 0.43 × ${10}^{-16\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ for ${\mathrm{Xe}}^m-\mathrm{Xe}$ collisions to 190 × ${10}^{-16\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ for ${\mathrm{Ne}}^m-\mathrm{He}$.