Generation of harmonic radiation by helium atoms in intense laser pulses

Measurements of natural radiative lifetimes in atomic tellurium in the 5p ³7p configuration are reported. Two-step laser excitation was applied on tellurium vapour in a cell that was differentially heated and pumped through a capillary. The decay of the fluorescence signal was recorded at different vapour pressures. The following four radiative lifetime values were obtained: 7p ⁵ P ₁: 128(11) ns, 7p ⁵ P ₂: 99(8) ns, 7p ³ P ₁: 82(10) ns and 7p ³ P ₂: 124(8) ns.