Kinetics of optically pumped Kr metastables.

Optically-pumped atomic gas lasers that utilize metastable excited states of rare gas atoms (Rg()) have been demonstrated using both pulsed and CW pump sources. These devices resemble diode-pumped alkali vapor lasers, but have the advantage of using a chemically inert lasing medium. Collisional energy transfer is needed to sustain a population inversion, and He is used as the transfer agent. Consequently, values for the Kr()+He state-to-state energy transfer rate constants are needed for the analysis and prediction of laser performance characteristics. In the present study, we report He energy transfer rate constants for Kr(*) in the 5p5/2, 5p5/2, 5p1/2, and 5s3/2 states.