[en] The dynamics of short pulsed laser-induced desorption of alkali atoms from poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated glass prism surfaces is investigated. Kinetic energies of desorbing sodium atoms of several hundred meV are found, increasing with increasing laser fluence. Evanescent wave measurements suggest that the desorbed atoms stem from a subsurface layer of the PDMS film, resulting in diffusional characteristics for the total yield of the desorption process

[en] The quantitative investigation of the energy pooling collision (EPC) process between resonantly laser excited In atoms is reported. The process is studied in a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) experiment where the nP populations, with n = 11, 10 and 9, are monitored. The population mechanism for these levels is verified via a temporal analysis of the fluorescence signals. This is possible in In due to the strongly reduced self trapping of the resonant radiation. The cross section for energy pooling collision to these nP levels has been derived by considering the Rydberg character of these levels. (author)

[en] We report new emission bands of molecular sodium in the visible and in the infrared regions. The diffuse bands already observed in the violet are also reconsidered. (orig.)

[en] We present a short review of energy pooling experiments in laser excited alkali vapors, for low atom density and low radiation intensity. Special emphasis is devoted to the most recent results obtained in sodium vapor

[en] We have produced a continuous beam of circular Rydberg atoms. Using three-step c.w. laser excitation followed by an adiabatic microwave transfer, we have prepared circular-states of lithium with principal quantum numbers ranging from n= 26 to n = 30. The circular state beam flux was 2.6.10⁶ atoms/s. This beam could be useful in high-precision measurements and fundamental cavity QED experiments

[en] Two blue lines (406.7 nm and 413.1 nm) of a Kr⁺ laser have been used to excite the potassium dimer K₂. It has been analysed the spectral region between 400 nm and 800 nm where a rich fluorescence spectrum has been observed as the result of different decay processes. Some of these features have not been reported previously; in particular it is interpreted the blue fluorescence( ∼ (400-470)nm) as due to the C → X and D →X bands, as indicated also by the absorption spectra recorder in this region for different temperatures

[en] The fluorescence intensity of a sodium vapour excited by a multimode dye-laser is observed as a function of the applied magnetic field: a resonant decrease of the fluorescence occurs when the frequency difference between two laser modes coincides with the frequency of an hyperfine transition of the ground state. An experimental proof is reported which evidences the coherent nature of the phenomenon

No abstract available

[en] Energy pooling in alkali vapour mixtures has been previously investigated by us in an amalgam of sodium and potassium. In this paper the peculiar features appearing when some buffer gas is introduced in the cell are described. It is demonstrated that the buffer gas enhances the energy transfer between Na(3P) and K(4S), which is detected through the effects induced on the highly excited states populated by the Na(3P)/Na(3P) and K(4P)/K(4P) collisions

[en] We present an experimental study which shows that a large fraction (> or =50%) of thermal Cs atoms are nearly specularly reflected by polished glass surfaces at grazing incidence. This effect is interesting in the context of projects aimed at storing cold alkali-metal atoms in boxes