Elastic Collision Kernels: Theoretical Determination and Direct Observation by Use of Time-Resolved Saturation Spectroscopy in Metastable Neon

Collision kernels describing elastic collision effects in saturation spectroscopy are completely calculated for the metastable ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P_0^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ state of neon, starting from true experiment-deduced potentials. Collision processes with and without metastability exchange are respectively considered. A direct observation of these two kernels is provided by a two-laser time-resolved saturated absorption experiment. They are in good agreement with theory.