Resonant Laser Excitation of Potassium Vapour: Experimental Investigation of Energy-Pooling Collisions and Plasma Production

Year: 1982

Authors: Allegrini M., Gozzini S., Longo I., Savino P., Bicchi P.

Autors Affiliation: Istituto di Fisica Atomica e Molecolare del C.N.R., Via del Giardino 3, Pisa, 56100, Italy; Istituto di Fisica dell\’Università, Via Banchi di Sotto 57, Siena, 53100, Italy

Abstract: The illumination of potassium vapour by means of a c.w. dye-laser resonant with the fundamental 4 S?4 P transitions results in the excitation of high-lying atomic and molecular states. In the present paper we report a spectroscopic study of this phenomenon and experimental evidence that the mechanisms responsible for the population of some of the levels not directly excited by the laser involve the creation of a plasma in the vapour.

Journal/Review: NUOVO CIMENTO DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI FISICA D-CONDENSED MATTER ATOMIC MOLECULAR AND CHEMICAL PHYSICS FLUIDS PLASMAS BIOPHYSICS

Volume: 1 (1)      Pages from: 49  to: 69

KeyWords: Potassium vapour; Dye-laser resonant; Spectroscopic study; Transitions; Plasma in the vapour
study
DOI: 10.1007/BF02450185