Abstract
Resonance scattering on excited helium atoms is observed by focusing a tunable dye laser at 4471 Å into a cold plasma of a low degree of ionization. Scattering signals due to collisional excitation transfer and radiative decay are observed on many other lines. The magnitude and the pulse shape of the scattered signals are discussed in terms of collisional and radiative transfer rates; a few collisional rates could be deduced.