Production of Alkali Plasmas by Photoionization

Abstract
Pulsed, low temperature, alkali plasmas have been produced by photoionization of the vapor using a xenon flashtube uv source. Results are as follows: for cesium, ne>1011 cm−3 with 100% ionization; for potassium, ne≈1010 cm−3 with 2% ionization; and for lithium, ne≈2×1010 cm−3. The flashtube spectrum in the 2100–3200 Å range was measured.