ENERGY-POOLING COLLISIONS IN POTASSIUM - 4P(J)-]4S+NL (NL=5P, 6S, 4D)(4P(J))

We report experimental rate coefficients for the energy-pooling collis ions K(4P(J))+K(4P(J))-->K(4S)+K(nl) with product states nl=5P, 6S, an d 4D. The experimental procedure and analysis are similar to those use d in a recent study of energy-pooling collisions in cesium. In potassi um, it was found that 4P(1/2) +4P(1/2) collisions are more efficient t han 4P(3/2)+4P(3/2) collisions for populating 5P, while the opposite i s true for populating 6S. Since fluorescence from 4D was not seen, we can only report an upper limit for that rate coefficient.