Ma. Khan et al., COLLECTIVE EFFECTS IN THE IONIZATION OF CALCIUM ATOMS FOLLOWING RESONANT LASER PUMPING OF 4S4P P-3(1) METASTABLE STATE, Journal of physics. D, Applied physics, 26(10), 1993, pp. 1614-1621
The ionization of calcium atoms resonantly excited to the 4s4p P-3(1)
metastable state is investigated. In particular, the influence of vari
ous experimental parameters on the total ionization yield and the rate
of its growth are reported. Maximum ionization yield was obtained wit
h the buffer gas (Ar) pressure in the range 100-650 mbar. Furthermore,
the time history of depopulation of the metastable state 4s4p P-3(1)
Monitored in a 'pump' and 'probe' experiment using a second dye laser
tuned to the 4s4p P-3(1)-4s5s S-3(1) transition is presented. The effe
ctive lifetime of the 4s4p P-3(1) state is shortened to 31 +/- 2 As at
850-degrees-C and 800 mbar Ar pressure from the known value of about
350 mus.