Interferometric scans of interstellar K I lines

Results of interferometric scans of the interstellar 7669 wavelength line of neutral potassium are reported toward 26 stars at 1.2 km/sec resolution. The advantages of the K I line, as compared with other optical interstellar lines, are discussed. Recent progress in photoanalytical techniques are shown to make possible the effective realization in practice of the inherent advantages of the K I line.