Collision-induced transitions between the Zeeman-split (J,m) levels of Rb(5 2P1/2, 5 2P3/2)

The collisional dynamics of the Zeeman-split levels of Rb(5 P-2(1/2), 5 P-2(3/2)) has been studied in the presence of a strong magnetic field (1.65 T) using steady-state, spectrally resolved laser-induced fluorescence techniques. State-to-state cross sections for transitions between (J,m) levels ranged from 1.6x10(-15) to 2.5 x 10(-14) cm(2) for collisions with nitrogen and rare gases. The cross sections indicate a significant dependence on (J,m) states and certain symmetry relations such as sigma(J,m-->J,m') = sigma(J,-m-->J,-m') and sigma(J,m -->J,'m) = sigma(J, -m-->J',-m) are demonstrated. The results also agree favorably with theoretical predictions of the relative decay rates for orientation, alignment, and octupole moment. The cross sections for rare-gas collision partners scale with polarizability as predicted.