Associative ionization in laser-excited sodium vapor

Abstract

Associative ionization in $\mathrm{Na} 3s\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Na} 4d$ and $\mathrm{Na} 3s\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Na} 5s$ collisions has been studied using two dye lasers to produce excited sodium atoms. The rate constants for these processes are reported.