| The collisional dynamics of the 62P levels in cesium have been studied utilizing steady state laser absorption and laser induced florescence techniques. In addition the production of a blue beam produced by two photon absorption has been observed in potassium. The collisional broadening rate for cesium, gammaL, for He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, N2, H2, HD, D2, CH4 , C2H6, CF4, and 3He are 24.13, 10.85, 18.31, 17.82, 19.74, 16.64, 20.81, 20.06, 18.04, 29.00, 26.70, 18.84, and 26.00 MHz/torr, respectively for the 62 P1/2 → 62S1/2 transition and 20.59, 9.81, 16.47, 15.54, 18.41, 19.18, 27.13, 28.24, 22.84, 25.84, 26.14, 17.81, and 22.35 MHz/torr for the 62 P3/2 → 62S1/2 transition. The corresponding pressure-induced shift rates, delta, are 4.24, -1.60, -6.47, -5.46, -6.43, -7.76, 1.11, 0.47, 0.00, -9.28, -8.54, -6.06, and 6.01 MHz/torr for the 62P 1/2 → 62S1/2 transition and 0.69, -2.58, -6.18, -6.09, -6.75, -6.20, -4.83, -4.49, -4.54, -8.86, -9.38, -6.47, and 0.60 MHz/Torr for the 62P 3/2 → 62S1/2 transition. These values have been compared with the values of other alkalis and the inter-atomic difference potentials have been determined using the impact approximation. The energy exchange rates between the two excited states of cesium by collisions with N2, H2, HD, D2, CH4, C 2H6, CF4, and C2F6 have been measured and shown to correlate with both the rotational energy defect and the vibrational energy defect. And finally, while pumping from the ground state 42S to the excited 5 2D and 62S states of potassium, a blue beam corresponding to the transition 52 P → 42S was observed. The effects of input power and buffer gas pressure where observed. |
