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Published on: August 17, 2017
[Collisional energy transfer of the Rb (7 2D) state by ground state K atoms]
Abstract:
In the K-Rb vaper mixtures, the two-photon stepwise excitation of rubidium atoms from the ground state to the state Rb 7 2D is obtained by the use of a rubidium lamp and a cw dye laser. The cross sections for the collisional process Rb (7 2D) +K (4S) -->Rb (5S) +K (7S. 5D) have been measured by observation of the resulting fluorescence. The ratio of K (7S. 5D) to Rb7D fluorescence contains a contribution from K 7S<==>5D mixing. The contribution could effectively be subtracted out using a second experiment in which a potassium lamp and a cw dye laser were used to pump the K7S or 5D state, and the ratio of 7S to 5D or 5D to 7S fluorescence was monitored. The cross sections (in 10(-15)cm2) for Rb7D-->K7S. 5D excitation transfer are 25.8 +/- 10. 3 and 1.5 +/- 0.6 respectively.
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