Majorana spin-flip transitions in a magnetic trap

Abstract

Atoms confined in a magnetic trap can escape by making spin-flip Majorana transitions due to a breakdown of the adiabatic approximation. Several papers have studied this process for atoms with spin $F = 1/2$ or $F= 1$. The present paper calculates the escape rate for atoms with spin $F > 1$. This problem has new features because the perturbation $\Delta T$ which allows atoms to escape satisfies a selection rule $\Delta F_z = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2$ and multi-step processes contribute in leading order. When the adiabatic approximation is satisfied the leading order terms can be summed to yield a simple expression for the escape rate.