DIFFUSION CROSS-SECTIONS FOR POTASSIUM 4(2)P(3 2) AND 4(2)P(1/2) LEVELS IN RARE-GASES/

We have used a light-induced drift (LID) experiment to determine ratio s of cross sections for diffusion of potassium in the excited 4(2)P(3/ 2), 4(2)P(1/2) and the ground 4(2)S(1/2) levels in five rare gases. Th e measured ratios are combined with the ground-state cross sections an d statistically averaged excited cross sections, available from a prev iously reported light induced diffusive pulling experiment, to obtain the absolute cross sections for individual fine structure levels. We a lso report calculated cross sections based on available potential curv es and a coupled-channel theory. Rough qualitative agreement is genera lly found between the absolute cross sections inferred from experiment and the theoretical values. The light-induced drift experiments, howe ver, measure ratios of cross section differences that are highly sensi tive to the potential curves. It is found that the available potential curves are not adequate for predicting these measured ratios.