Exploration of the dynamic process of laser-induced ionization for the preparation of metastable Kr atoms based on the 5p[3/2]2 to 5s[3/2]2 transition

• The 5p[3/2] 2 level Kr atoms are produced by photon excitation, electron impact excitation, and recombination processes. • The “electron-impact excitation + radiation” process plays a transitional role in the preparation of metastable Kr atoms. • The competition between decay and replenishment channels is analyzed using the collisional decay rate constants and radiative decay rates of the three processes. This paper continues the work of our previous study [J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 330 109233], further exploring the dynamics of the metastable 5s[3/2] 2 level of Kr atoms prepared by laser-induced ionization. Focusing on the “photon excitation + radiation” process, “electron-impact excitation + radiation” process, and “ion-electron recombination” process, we obtained the corresponding total collisional decay rate constants k col for the 5p[3/2] 2 level of (1.11±0.09)×10 −11 cm 3 s −1 , (0.09±0.03)×10 −11 cm 3 s −1 , and (0.0010±0.0001)×10 −11 cm 3 s −1 , respectively, based on time-resolved spectra at 760.15 nm. While the corresponding total radiative decay rates k rad were (2.58±0.75)×10 7 s −1 , (0.88±0.29)×10 7 s −1 , and (0.004±0.001)×10 7 s −1 . Through the analysis and comparison of the total collisional decay rate constants, and radiative decay rates obtained from the three stages, this study provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamic processes of the interactions between the relevant physical mechanisms during laser-induced ionization to produce metastable atoms. It clearly identifies that the changes in the population replenishment rate of the 5p[3/2] 2 level, due to the collision and radiation channels at different stages, are key factors influencing the values of k col and k rad .