Observation of collisional energy transfer from laser excited Cd atoms to Na(4p P-2(J)) atoms

Transfer of excitation from cadmium to sodium atoms was investigated in an heat pipe oven illuminated by a pulsed laser tuned on the intercombination transition of cadmium. A rich emission spectrum with cadmium as well as sod ium lines was observed. Intramultiplet mixing distributes the initial excit ed level population 5p(3)P(1) to the nearby fine structure levels 5p(3)P(0, 2) of the same multiplet. We have experimental evidence that the energy tra nsfer pathway is from Cd (5p(3)P(J)) to Na(4p(2)P(J)) which is collisionall y rapidly converted to Na(3d(2)D(J)), from which the strongest emission was observed.