Spin dependent inelastic collisions between metastable state two-electron atoms and ground state alkali-atoms

Experimentally the spin dependence of inelastic collisions between ytterbium (Yb) in the metastable ${}^3{P}_2$ state and lithium (Li) in the ${}^2{S}_{1/2}$ ground state manifold is investigated at low magnetic fields. Using selective excitation all magnetic sublevels m _J of ${}^{174}$Yb(${}^3{P}_2$) are accessed and four of the six lowest lying magnetic sublevels of ${}^{6}Li$ are prepared by optical pumping. On the one hand, m _J-independence of collisions involving Li($F=1/2$) atoms is found. A systematic m _J-dependence in collisions with Li($F=3/2$) atoms, in particular suppressed losses for stretched collisional states, is observed on the other hand. Further, m _J-changing processes are found to be of minor relevance. The span of observed inelastic collision rates is between $1\times {10}^{-11}$ and $40\times {10}^{-11}{cm}^3{s}^{-1}$, and a possible origin of the observed behavior is discussed. (paper)