Polarization effects in theP 3/2→P 1/2 fine structure transition cross section forK(4P)-He collisions

Taking the energy dependence of theP _3/2→P _1/2 fine structure transition cross section ofK(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 stateK(4² P _3/2).