Induction emf due to interaction of nonresonant laser radiation with potassium vapor

An experimental investigation was made of electric and magnetic fields induced in potassium vapor by the action of nonresonant laser radiation pulses in the presence of an external static magnetic field. The induced fields were studied by detection of an emf generated in a measuring coil. An investigation was made of the dependences of the emf signal on the power and polarization of the exciting radiation, on the external magnetic field, and on the density of atoms. The emf induced during a laser pulse was attributed to multiphoton ionization of potassium atoms and generation of an electric field due to a spatial distribution of charges.