Influence of inelastic collisions on the efficiency of optical pumping of alkali atoms in a gas cell

We study the processes of optical pumping of alkali metal atoms in the gas cell with buffer gas for the quantum magnetometers. The value of pumped magnetic moment is strongly influenced by the collision effects. Collisions of alkali atoms with the buffer gas lead to partial destruction of the atomic quantum state. As a first approximation, we can assume that the state of electronic shell collapses, but the state of the nucleus is saved. This work is devoted to the description of this effect and its impact to the polarization of the magnetic moment.