Observation of the laser-assisted reaction K+NaCl+hν→Na/emph>+KCl using K atoms selected by a hexapole magnetic field

K-atom selection by an inhomogeneous magnetic field was used to demonstrate that atomic K is needed to produce three-beam ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ fluorescence in a (K,NaCl, laser) triple-beam experiment. When the magnet is energized, the atomic flux and the three-beam ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ fluorescence both approximately double, thereby demonstrating that K atoms are involved in the process giving rise to ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$. This supports the previous interpretation of three-beam ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ fluorescence as due to the laser-assisted reaction K+NaCl+hν→${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$+KCl. .AE