Polarization measurements of Na 3p2P3/2in Na-Ar, Na-Kr, and Na-Xe optical collisions

Measurements of polarization of the Na 3${\mathit{p}}^2$ ${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$ level produced in Na-Ar, Na-Kr, and Na-Xe optical collisions are reported. The measurements extend over a range of detunings from 150 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ red to 350 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ blue of resonant excitation of the Na 3p levels. The short-pulse, pump-probe technique employed in the experiments eliminates large systematic effects due to the hyperfine interaction, collisions, and radiative trapping. For far-blue-wing excitation, nearly constant polarizations of 21(2)%, 13(2)%, and 8(2)% are obtained for Na-Ar, Na-Kr, and Na-Xe, respectively.