Abstract

Potassium atoms in gas-phase (vapours) are excited using a pulsed dye laser with wavelength tuned in the vicinity of the K(4S–5S) magnetic-dipole (M1) resonance at ≅ 475 nm. The laser beam is focused in the center of a heat-pipe oven, thus providing a laser intensity of about 1.8×l0⁷ W/cm². A coherent emission (≅60 nJ) at 1.25 μm, corresponding to the K(5S→4P_3/2) electronic-dipole (El) transition, is detected in the direction of the excitation laser beam.

© 1992 IQEC