Acta Physica Polonica A
Fluorescence of Sodium Vapour Excited by 330 nm Laser Pulses
N. A. Gorbunov, P. Kozłowski, K. Nowak, T. Stacewicz
Abstract
i n Ùnal for m Marc h 1, 2001) W e rep ort results of investigation on the Ûuorescence induced in sodium v ap our by pulses of laser light tuned near the 3 S ! 4 P transition (330 nm ).T he Ûuorescence w as observed in perp endi cular and parallel direction s in resp ect to the laser b eam.A depletion of Ûuorescence intensity corresp ondin g to the 5 D ! 3 P transition (498 nm) was observed along the laser beam.W e explain this e˜ect as a result of reabsorption that is caused by intense p opulati on of the 3 P level due to cascade stimulated pro cesses.T he most intense depletio n occurs ab out 20 ns after the laser pulse and it corresp onds to the moment of maximal populati on of the 3 P level.