Collisional depopulation of a high-lying P state of potassium

Abstract
Total cross-sections for the collisional depopulation of the 10 P level of Potassium by Potassium and rare gases have been measured, with the following results : Q (K) = 6 000 ± 3 000 Å2; Q (He) = 18 ± 6 Å 2 ; Q (Ar) = 8 ± 3 Å2 ; and Q (Xe) = 40 ± 15 Å2. The importance of the electronic excitation transfer to neighbouring levels is clearly demonstrated as well as the influence of the quasi-free behaviour of the valence electron