Abstract
The zero field level crossing technique has been used for the study of the 41D and 31 D levels of helium as excited by impact of Li+ and Na+ ions in a helium gas target in the energy range 20 to 150 keV. The measurement of the amplitude and of the half width of the Hanle curves recorded for several target pressures between 10 -4 and 10-1 torr provides useful information both on the primary collision and on the relaxation phenomena. Direct evidence for anisotropic recoil of the target is also used to provide an indirect test for classification of the various channels leading to the excitation of high lying levels of HeI