Radiative lifetimes in Ce I and Ce II

New radiative lifetime measurements based on time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence techniques are reported for 18 even-parity levels belonging to the 4f5d^26p and 4f ²5d ² configurations of Ce I and 6 even-parity levels belonging to the 5d^26s, 4f5d6p, and 4f6s6p configurations of Ce II. Free neutral and singly ionized cerium atoms were produced by laser ablation. The Ce I and Ce II levels range in energy from 26 545 to 29 102 cm^-1, and 42 573 to 48 152 cm^-1, respectively. Received 25 September 2002 Published online 4 March 2003     

Lifetime measurements in Tm I,Tm II,and Tm III by time-resolved laser spectroscopy

Natural radiative lifetimes of eight levels in Tm I ( 4f ¹³5d6p and 4f ¹²5d6s ² configurations), two levels in Tm II ( 4f ¹²5d6s configuration) and three levels in Tm III (4f ¹²5d configuration) have been measured by using time-resolved laser spectroscopy. Free thulium atoms, as well as singly and doubly ionized ions, were obtained in a laser-induced thulium plasma and the investigated states were selectively populated by a single-step excitation process with a tunable narrow-band laser pulse. Received 20 August 2002 / Received in final form 7 January 2003 Published online 4 March 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: huailiang.xu@fysik.lth.se     

Lifetime measurements in Gd II and Gd III using time-resolved laser spectroscopy

Natural radiative lifetimes of 20 levels (energy range between 29 000-35 000 cm^-1) in Gd II and 5 levels (energy range between 43 000-49 000 cm^-1) in Gd III have been measured using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence in a laser-produced plasma. Received 17 July 2000 and Received in final form 13 October 2000     

Measurementof the transition probability in calcium

We have measured the ratio between the transition probabilities of two forbidden lines in Ca: the intercombination line at 657.3 nm and the E 2 line at 457.5 nm. The value we obtained for this ratio is (54.1±2.4). Combined with the most accurate value available in literature for the lifetime of the ³ P ₁ level, our measurement gives a value of (54.4±4.0) s^-1 for the ¹ S ₀ ↦ ¹ D ₂ transition probability, significantly more accurate than the previous determinations. Received 17 June 2002 / Received in final form 9 December 2002 Published online 4 March 2003     

Radiative lifetimes of Zr III excited levels

We report on radiative lifetimes of 4d5p excited states of Zr III produced in a laser produced plasma. The ions were populated either in the ground state or in metastable states, and the number of ions is strongly dependent on the application of an external magnetic field, which is shown to be very important when using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique for lifetime measurements in highly charged ions. The experimental lifetime results fall in the region 1–2 ns with statistical uncertainties less than 7%. The experimental values were compared with multi-configuration Hartree-Fock calculations showing an agreement within 12–20%. The experimental values are systematically higher than the theoretical ones.     

Determination of radiative lifetimes of neutral sulphur by time-resolved three-photon VUV laser spectroscopy

Radiative lifetimes of the highly exited states s and d of neutral sulphur have been measured using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. The sulphur atoms were generated in a laser-produced plasma. The investigated states were populated through a two-step process involving a two-photon excitation to the lowest excited triplet state of even parity , followed by a one-photon excitation to the investigated state. We obtained ns and ns. These values are much longer than theoretically predicted ones and much shorter than those indirectely inferred from astronomical data. Received: 9 February 1998 / Accepted: 24 February 1998     

Radiative lifetimes of 7d, 8d <Superscript>1</Superscript>D<Subscript>2</Subscript> excited states of Hg I

Radiative lifetimes of 7d, 8d ¹ D ₂ excited states of Hg I are measured using pulsed two-photon excitation from the ground [Xe]5d ¹⁰6s ^{2 1} S ₀ mercury state, detecting the decay of the laser-induced fluorescence. The results are compared with theoretical values, obtained by means of a Hartree-Fock single configuration method, taking into account electron configuration interaction. The radiative lifetime value dependence on the effective principal quantum number for the nd ¹ D ₂ series is analyzed and compared with the quantum defect dependence. Received 25 February 2000 and Received in final form 26 July 2000     

Lifetime measurements for some levels in Be-like Cl XIV and S XIII

Lifetime measurements have been carried out for some low lying (n = 2) levels in the four-electron ions Cl XIV and S XIII using the beam-foil technique. Accurate oscillator strengths for the 2 s2 ¹ S - 2 s 2 p ¹ P o transition have been determined by the inclusion of prominent cascades in the analysis. Lifetimes of the levels of the 2 p2 ³ P j multiplet have also been measured for both ions. The results are compared with theoretical predictions and earlier measurements. Received: 29 October 1997 / Revised: 10 February 1998 / Accepted: 5 March 1998     

Experimental transition probabilities in N III,N IV and N V spectra

We have obtained transition probabilities (Einstein's A values) of thirteen transitions in doubly (N III), six in triply (N IV) and two in four times (N V) ionized nitrogen spectra belonging to the 3s-3p and 3p-3d transitions using a relative line intensity ratio (RLIR) technique. The linear low-pressure pulsed arc was used as an optically thin plasma source operated at 51 400 K electron temperature and 2.2×10²³ m^-3 electron density in nitrogen plasma. Our A values are compared to recent theoretical and experimental data. Received 18 December 2001 / Received in final form 29 January 2002 Published online 28 June 2002     

Radiative transitions in highly ionised silicon-like ions

Transition energies, oscillator strengths and transition probability values for radiative transitions have been calculated for the highly ionised atoms of Si isoelectronic sequence from Mn¹¹⁺ to Kr²²⁺ for the singly excited states up to principal quantum number n = 7. Time-dependent coupled Hartree-Fock (TDCHF) theory has been used to estimate such transition properties. Most of the results for the oscillator strengths and transition probabilities are new. Transition energies agree reasonably well with available spectroscopic values. Received 25 January 2000 and Received in final form 24 October 2000     

Lifetime measurements of some levels belonging to the 3p <Emphasis Type="Bold">5</Emphasis>nd ( , 5, 6, 7) configuration of ArI

Lifetimes of some 3p^5nd (n = 4, 5, 6, 7) levels of neutral argon have been measured by high frequency deflection technique with a delayed coincidence single photon counting arrangement. The measurements have been performed under conditions where pressure dependent effects are negligible. Lifetimes of some of the levels have been measured for the first time. The results have been compared with other experimental and theoretical values. Received 7 August 2002 / Received in final form 20 December 2002 Published online 24 April 2003     

Spectra for electric-dipole Δn = 0 transitions in highly ionized sulfur ions

Spectra for Δn = 0 transitions of the type 2s²2p^k-2s2p^k+1 or 2s2p^k-2p^k+1 from highly ionized sulfur produced in beam-foil excitation are investigated and compared to similar spectra measured with other types of light sources. In the experiment, fifty lines have been identified, of which eleven lines are new and accurately measured. Analysis of spectra was based on comparisons with other experimental results and calculated values.     

Theoretical study of the 5p56s – 5p6 spectra of neutral xenon

Recent high precision measurements on the lifetime of the metastable 6s[3/2]₂ state of atomic xenon display a difference with previous predictions by a factor of 2–3. In the present work, a systematic relaxation and correlation approach, which has been developed on the basis of a widely used multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method, is applied to study the electric dipole allowed E1 and forbidden M1, E2 and M2 transitions between the 5p⁵ 6s and 5p⁶ configurations. We systematically include the correlation effects which arise from all the single and double excitations from the occupied shells into the (n=6–10) active sets and the relaxation effects caused by change of the electron density between the radiative initial- and final-states. This study not only reduces greatly the existing discrepancy in the lifetime of the 6s[3/2]₂ state, but also presents rather consistent results for both the lifetime of the metastable 6s'[1/2]₀ state and the oscillator strength of the 5p⁵ 6s - 5p⁶ E1 resonant transitions.     

Oscillator strength of the strongly “forbidden” Pb 6 p 2 3 P 0 ?6 p 2 3 P 1 transition at 1278.9 nm

The “forbidden” Pb 6p^{2 3}P ₀ ↦6 p ^{2 3}P₁ line at 1278.9 nm is measured by diode laser absorption in a resistively heated hot-pipe filled with a lead vapour and argon as buffer gas. The measurements performed at a temperature of 1170 K and a lead number density of 2.4×10 ¹⁵ cm^-3 yield the oscillator strength f _F = (4.5±1.1)×10 ^-7 which corresponds to a radiative transition probability A _F = (6.1±1.5) s^-1. Within the error bars, the result is in agreement with theoretical data published by different authors. Received 11 October 2000 and Received in final form 5 January 2001     

Breit-Pauli energy levels and radiative lifetimes in neutral chlorine

Breit-Pauli Energy levels, oscillator strengths and transition probabilities for all the transitions in Cl I between the fine structure levels of 3s² 3p⁵, 3s² 3p⁴3d, 3s² 3p⁴4s and 3s²3p⁴4p states are calculated using extensive configuration interaction (CI) wave functions. We have also determined the lifetimes of 3s² 3p⁴3d, 3s² 3p⁴4s and 3s² 3p⁴4p levels. The relativistic effects are included through Breit-Pauli approximation via spin-orbit, Darwin and mass correction terms. Prior to the calculations of the oscillator strengths and transition probabilities, we fine-tune the CI coefficient using experimental energies. Our results are compared with experimental and other available theoretical data. The calculated energy levels are in close agreement with most of the NIST compiled data. We predict new lifetime data for several levels where no other theoretical and/or experimental results are available, which will form the basis for the future experimental work. Electronic supplementary material Online Material     

Experimental transition probabilities and improved level energies in Yb III

Radiative lifetimes of nine out of the twelve 4f¹³6p levels in Yb III have been measured, seven of these for the first time. A Penning discharge lamp is introduced as a continuous plasma source, in which the lifetimes are determined with the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique by pumping from metastable 5d and 6s levels. Spectra of the same source are recorded with a Fourier-transform spectrometer, which are used to derive branching fractions of the 6p and 7s levels. Combined with the lifetimes, the branching fractions are used to determine 81 experimental transition probabilities. Wavelengths of 142 Yb III transitions are measured and the uncertainties of corresponding Ritz wavenumbers are improved by an order of magnitude from the prior values. The energy of the 5d (5/2,5/2)^○ ₀ level has been shifted 144.20 cm^-1 to the higher value 45421.045 cm^-1. Much emphasis is put on data treatment and error analysis. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary Online Material     

Sodium in a strong magnetic field

We investigate the effects of a magnetic field with low to intermediate strength on several spectroscopic properties of the sodium atom. A model potential is used to describe the core of sodium, reducing the study of the system to an effective one-particle problem. All states with principal quantum numbers n = 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are studied and analysed. A grid of twenty values for the field strength in the complete regime B = 0 - 0.02 a.u. is employed. Ionisation energies, transition wavelengths and their dipole oscillator strengths are presented. Received 5 November 2002 Published online 4 February 2003     

Two-color pump-probe experiments in helium using high-order harmonics

A pump-probe technique has been applied for measuring the lifetimes and absolute photoionization cross-sections of excited He states. The 1s2p ¹P and 1s3p ¹P states of He are excited by using the 13th and the 14th harmonic, respectively, of a tunable 70 ps dye laser generated in a Kr gas jet. The states are ionized after a varying time delay, by absorption of probe photons with energies between 1.6 and 4.5 eV. Lifetimes of τ(1s2p) = 0.57 ns and τ(1s3p) = 1.76 ns are determined with a precision of about 15%. A significant enhancement of the number of ions present in the lifetime curves at zero time delay for pressures above 6×10^-5 mbar is attributed to direct two-photon ionization of He in combination with AC Stark broadening of the excited state and absorption of the XUV light in the medium. Absolute photoionization cross-sections from the He 1s2p ¹P and He 1s3p ¹P states in the threshold region are determined by measuring the saturation of the ionization process with a precision of ∼ 25%. In addition, the variation of the relative orientation between the polarization vectors of the pump and probe beams enables the determination of partial photoionization cross-sections. Received 3 June 2002 / Received in final form 14 August 2002 Published online 22 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"Present address: Department of Biophysics, Leiden University, 2333 CA Leiden, The Netherlands. RID="b" ID="b"Present address: Continuum Electro-Optics Inc., 3150 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA. RID="c" ID="c"Present address: CEA/DRECAM/SPAM, CEN Saclay, 91105 Gif-sur-Yvette, France. RID="d" ID="d"Present address: Department of Physics, National University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda. RID="e" ID="e"Present address: CELIA, Université Bordeaux 1, 33405 Talence, France. RID="f" ID="f"Present address: MAX-Lab, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden. RID="g" ID="g"e-mail: anne.lhuillier@fysik.lth.se     

Experimental lifetime of some level belonging to the 5p46d configuration of XeII

Lifetimes of eight levels belonging to the 5p⁴6d configuration of singly ionized xenon have been measured by high frequency deflection technique with a delayed coincidence single photon counting arrangement. The results have been compared with other experimental and theoretical values. The lifetimes of the 6d ²F_3/2 and 6d ⁴F_3/2 levels have been measured for the first time.     

The theoretical calculation of transition probabilities for some excited p-d transitions in atomic nitrogen

The atomic transition probabilities are calculated for individual lines between some quartet terms of 3p↦4d and 3p↦5d transition arrays using weakest bound electron potential model theory (WBEPMT). In the determination of relevant parameters which are needed for calculation of transition probabilities, we employed numerical non-relativistic Hartree-Fock wave functions for expectation values of radius in both ground and excited states unlike to NCA method used on traditional WBEPMT procedure. We have obtained very good agreement between our results and the accepted values taken from NIST.