Spin-destruction collision

In atomic physics, a spin-destruction (or spin-disorientation) collision is a physical impact where the spin angular momentum of an atom is irretrievably scrambled.

This type of collision can be a significant spin relaxation mechanism for polarized alkali metal vapor. In particular, the relaxation rate of alkali metal atoms in SERF atomic magnetometers is dominated by spin-destruction collisions.

Spin-destruction cross sections

	σsd,self		σsd,He		σsd,Ne		σsd,N2
K	1 × 10−18 cm2		8 × 10−25 cm2
Rb	9 × 10−18 cm2		9 × 10−24 cm2		5.2 × 10−23 cm2		1 × 10−22 cm2
Cs	2 × 10−16 cm2		3 × 10−23 cm2				6 × 10−22 cm2