Polarization effects in th Psub(2/3) → Psub(1/1) fine structure transition cross section for K(4P)-He collisions

Taking the energy dependence of the Psub(3/2) → Psub(1/2) fine structure transition cross section of K (4P) colliding with He as an example, theoretical and experimental studies have been made to illustrate the large possibilities opened by the combination of beam experiments with laser excitation in the investigation of the atomic collisional processes. Explicit calculations, experimentally confirmed, show a strong dependence of the above process on the laser excitation schema for producing the excited state K(42Psub(3/2)). (orig.)