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AOPC: Advanced Laser Technology and Applications

Influence of the collisional energy transfer between potassium and rubidium atoms

Shunyan Wang, Tao Peng, You Wang, Xi Yang, Fengchen Luo, Xiao Lei, Chenghuan Su, Meihong Rao

Published Oct 28, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Potassium (K) and rubidium (Rb) are two kinds of typical alkali atoms, which have the similar energy-level structures. In a mixture of potassium and rubidium, energy transfer among atoms is different from that in a simple sample of potassium or rubidium vapor. When potassium and rubidium mixed vapor is irradiated simultaneously by a potassium resonance doublet and a rubidium resonance doublet, energy transfer will be induced by inelastic collisions between the excited potassium atoms and the unexcited potassium atoms, the excited rubidium atoms and the unexcited rubidium atoms, the excited potassium atoms and the unexcited rubidium atoms, the unexcited potassium atoms and the excited rubidium atoms, the excited potassium atoms and the excited rubidium atoms, and etc. Two processes of energy transfer between two upper-state levels of atomic potassium or rubidium such as 42P3/2 → 42P1/2 and 52P3/2 → 52P1/2, are known as direct-relaxation. Four processes of energy transfer such as 42P1/2 → 52P1/2, 42P1/2 → 52P3/2, 42P3/2 → 52P1/2, and 42P3/2→ 52P3/2, are called as cross-relaxation. In this study, we evaluate quantitatively the effect of cross-relaxation on the population distribution of atomic potassium and rubidium as well as the output power of the complex potassium-rubidium lasing system. The results demonstrate four cross-relaxation rates are much smaller than two direct-relaxation rates so that the influence can be negligible under the given temperature conditions. The conclusion might be helpful to better understand the kinetic principle of collisional energy transfer of a complex lasing system with mixed alkali metal media.

DOI
10.1117/12.3077991

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Sensitized fluorescence in rubidium vapor, induced by collisions with excited potassium atoms, was investigated to determine the total cross sections for inelastic collisions between excited potassium atoms and rubidium atoms in their ground states. The collision cross sections for the various excitation transfer processes are as follows: Q12′ (K42P1/2 → Rb52P3/2) = 40 Å2, Q22′ (K42P3/2 → Rb52P3/2) = 27 Å2, Q11′ (K42P1/2 → Rb52P1/2) = 2.7 Å2, and Q21′ (K42P3/2 → Rb52P1/2) = 1.9 Å2. The partial pressure of potassium vapor in the K–Rb mixture was kept largely below 10−5 mm Hg to eliminate effects due to the trapping of potassium resonance radiation.

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E. S. Hrycyshyn, L. Krause

The total cross sections for collisions between excited potassium and unexcited rubidium atoms, leading to the transfer of excitation between the 42P states in potassium, have been determined in a sensitized fluorescence experiment. The experiments were carried out at partial pressures of potassium vapor lower than 10−5 mm Hg, at which the imprisonment of resonance radiation may be disregarded. The cross sections Q12″ (42P1/2 → 42P3/2) and Q21″ (42P1/2 ← 42P3/2) equal 260 Å2 and 175 Å2, respectively, and are in the ratio predicted by the principle of detailed balancing.

Canadian Journal of Physics•Jan 15, 1969•9 citations

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Sensitized fluorescence in potassium vapor at pressures between 10−5 mm Hg and 10−1 mm Hg was investigated to determine the cross sections for collisions of the second kind between unexcited and excited potassium atoms. An idealized fluorescence tube was used in the experiment and the fluorescent light was analyzed with a photoelectric recording spectrometer. The collision cross sections at low vapor pressures, where imprisonment of radiation is absent, are identical for both the 42P1/2 → 42P3/2 and 42P1/2 ← 42P3/2 transitions and equal 6.6 × 10−12 cm2 at 2 × 10−4 mm Hg. The experimental results are interpreted on the basis of new selection rules for sensitized fluorescence.

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I. N. Siara, E. S. Hrycyshyn, L. Krause

The cross sections for excitation transfer between the 62P fine-structure substates in rubidium, induced in collisions with noble gas atoms, have been determined in a series of sensitized fluorescence experiments. Mixtures of rubidium vapor and noble gases at pressures varying in the range 0–5 Torr were irradiated with each component of the second 2P rubidium doublet in turn and the following cross sections for 2P mixing were obtained from measurements of sensitised-to-resonance fluorescent intensity ratios. Rb–He: Q12(2P1/2 → 2P3/2) = 29.3 Å2; Q21(2P1/2 ← 2P3/2) = 19.0 Å2. Rb–Ne: Q12 = 10.3 Å2; Q21 = 6.4 Å2. Rb–Ar: Q12 = 24.0 Å2; Q21 = 14.9 Å2. Rb–Kr: Q12 = 23.2 Å2; Q21 = 14.6 Å2. Rb–Xe: Q12 = 43.9 Å2; Q21 = 27.7 Å2 In their dependence on the magnitude of the fine-structure splitting, the values are consistent with previously determined cross sections for mixing in the first and third 2P doublets of alkali atoms.

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Collisional Excitation Transfer Between the P2_12 and P2_32 Levels in Alkali Atoms

L. Krause

An account of recent work is given by the author and co-workers on the experimental determination of cross sections for excitation transfer between the (2)P((1/2)) and (2)P(3/2)resonance levels in potassium, rubidium and cesium, induced by inelastic collisions with alkali atoms and inert gas atoms in their ground states. Forty values of cross sections were obtained in a series of sensitized fluorescence experiments, in which alkali vapors and vapor-gas mixtures were irradiated with one component of the appropriate alkali resonance doublet, and the relative intensities of both components appearing in the fluorescent light were measured. The experiments indicate that the collisional interaction between an alkali atom in a (2)P state and a ground state inert gas atom probably occurs between the inert gas atom and the (2)P alkali valence electron which behaves like a quasi-free particle.

Applied Optics•Sep 1, 1966•128 citations
Potassium (K) and rubidium (Rb) are two kinds of typical alkali atoms, which have the similar energy-level structures. In a mixture of potassium and rubidium, energy transfer among atoms is different from that in a simple sample of potassium or rubidium vapor. When potassium and rubidium mixed vapor is irradiated simultaneously by a potassium resonance doublet and a rubidium resonance doublet, energy transfer will be induced by inelastic collisions between the excited potassium atoms and the unexcited potassium atoms, the excited rubidium atoms and the unexcited rubidium atoms, the excited potassium atoms and the unexcited rubidium atoms, the unexcited potassium atoms and the excited rubidium atoms, the excited potassium atoms and the excited rubidium atoms, and etc. Two processes of energy transfer between two upper-state levels of atomic potassium or rubidium such as 42P3/2 → 42P1/2 and 52P3/2 → 52P1/2, are known as direct-relaxation. Four processes of energy transfer such as 42P1/2 → 52P1/2, 42P1/2 → 52P3/2, 42P3/2 → 52P1/2, and 42P3/2→ 52P3/2, are called as cross-relaxation. In this study, we evaluate quantitatively the effect of cross-relaxation on the population distribution of atomic potassium and rubidium as well as the output power of the complex potassium-rubidium lasing system. The results demonstrate four cross-relaxation rates are much smaller than two direct-relaxation rates so that the influence can be negligible under the given temperature conditions. The conclusion might be helpful to better understand the kinetic principle of collisional energy transfer of a complex lasing system with mixed alkali metal media.
As two main atomic alkalis, rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs) have the similar energy-level structures. The energy transfer caused by collisions between rubidium and cesium atoms is a crucial factor for a vapor system. When such a vapor is irradiated with one component of rubidium resonance doublet, energy transfer will be induced by inelastic collisions between the excited rubidium atoms and the unexcited rubidium atoms, and between the excited rubidium atoms and the unexcited cesium atoms as well. It is noteworthy that the energy transfer between atomic rubidium and cesium is performed as cross relaxation. In this study, we theoretically investigate the effects of cross relaxations between the upper-state levels of atomic rubidium and cesium on the population distribution of the gas media. It has been demonstrated that the intensity of cross relaxations in this system is too weak to greatly affect the population distributions of atomic rubidium and cesium under the different temperatures. The conclusion might be helpful to better understand the physical features of alkalis.
Sensitized fluorescence in rubidium vapor, induced by collisions with excited potassium atoms, was investigated to determine the total cross sections for inelastic collisions between excited potassium atoms and rubidium atoms in their ground states. The collision cross sections for the various excitation transfer processes are as follows: Q12′ (K42P1/2 → Rb52P3/2) = 40 Å2, Q22′ (K42P3/2 → Rb52P3/2) = 27 Å2, Q11′ (K42P1/2 → Rb52P1/2) = 2.7 Å2, and Q21′ (K42P3/2 → Rb52P1/2) = 1.9 Å2. The partial pressure of potassium vapor in the K–Rb mixture was kept largely below 10−5 mm Hg to eliminate effects due to the trapping of potassium resonance radiation.
The total cross sections for collisions between excited potassium and unexcited rubidium atoms, leading to the transfer of excitation between the 42P states in potassium, have been determined in a sensitized fluorescence experiment. The experiments were carried out at partial pressures of potassium vapor lower than 10−5 mm Hg, at which the imprisonment of resonance radiation may be disregarded. The cross sections Q12″ (42P1/2 → 42P3/2) and Q21″ (42P1/2 ← 42P3/2) equal 260 Å2 and 175 Å2, respectively, and are in the ratio predicted by the principle of detailed balancing.
Sensitized fluorescence in potassium vapor at pressures between 10−5 mm Hg and 10−1 mm Hg was investigated to determine the cross sections for collisions of the second kind between unexcited and excited potassium atoms. An idealized fluorescence tube was used in the experiment and the fluorescent light was analyzed with a photoelectric recording spectrometer. The collision cross sections at low vapor pressures, where imprisonment of radiation is absent, are identical for both the 42P1/2 → 42P3/2 and 42P1/2 ← 42P3/2 transitions and equal 6.6 × 10−12 cm2 at 2 × 10−4 mm Hg. The experimental results are interpreted on the basis of new selection rules for sensitized fluorescence.
The cross sections for excitation transfer between the 62P fine-structure substates in rubidium, induced in collisions with noble gas atoms, have been determined in a series of sensitized fluorescence experiments. Mixtures of rubidium vapor and noble gases at pressures varying in the range 0–5 Torr were irradiated with each component of the second 2P rubidium doublet in turn and the following cross sections for 2P mixing were obtained from measurements of sensitised-to-resonance fluorescent intensity ratios. Rb–He: Q12(2P1/2 → 2P3/2) = 29.3 Å2; Q21(2P1/2 ← 2P3/2) = 19.0 Å2. Rb–Ne: Q12 = 10.3 Å2; Q21 = 6.4 Å2. Rb–Ar: Q12 = 24.0 Å2; Q21 = 14.9 Å2. Rb–Kr: Q12 = 23.2 Å2; Q21 = 14.6 Å2. Rb–Xe: Q12 = 43.9 Å2; Q21 = 27.7 Å2 In their dependence on the magnitude of the fine-structure splitting, the values are consistent with previously determined cross sections for mixing in the first and third 2P doublets of alkali atoms.
An account of recent work is given by the author and co-workers on the experimental determination of cross sections for excitation transfer between the (2)P((1/2)) and (2)P(3/2)resonance levels in potassium, rubidium and cesium, induced by inelastic collisions with alkali atoms and inert gas atoms in their ground states. Forty values of cross sections were obtained in a series of sensitized fluorescence experiments, in which alkali vapors and vapor-gas mixtures were irradiated with one component of the appropriate alkali resonance doublet, and the relative intensities of both components appearing in the fluorescent light were measured. The experiments indicate that the collisional interaction between an alkali atom in a (2)P state and a ground state inert gas atom probably occurs between the inert gas atom and the (2)P alkali valence electron which behaves like a quasi-free particle.