Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Direct Measurements of Excited-State Lifetimes in Group-II and Group-Iii Atoms.

Mark D. Havey

Published Jun 1, 1977• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The lifetimes of a large number of excited states in the Group II and Group III atoms have been measured.Among these states are the 5s5p3Pj metastable state of Sr and the lowest 3Sj state of Mg, Ca, and Sr.Also measured were the lifetimes of the lowest 2Sa states of Al, Ga, In and Tl, and "2 the lifetimes of several andXD2 states of Ca.The ex cited states were populated by one-and two-step dye laser excitation, and the lifetimes determined by direct observa tion of the subsequent resonance or branching fluorescence.The results obtained for states in the triplet series of the Group II atoms are: t {Sr 3P ) =(21.0 ± 1.0)ysec, r{Mg 3Sl) = (9.7 ± 0.5) nsec, t(Ca 3S 1)= ( 11.7 ± 0.6) nsec,x(Sr 3Sj ) = (12.9± 0.7) nsec.ix CHAPTER X

Related papers

Measurement of the lowest S-state lifetime of Al, Ga, In, and Tl†

Mark D. Havey, L. C. Balling, J. J. Wright

The lifetimes of the lowest 2S1/2 state in Al, Ga, In, and Tl have been measured by observing the exponential decay of the fluorescence arising from the 2S1/2–2P3/2 transition in each atom, following selective excitation of the 2S1/2 state by an N2 laser-pumped dye laser. The values obtained for the 2S1/2 state lifetimes were τ(A1) = (6.8 ± 0.3) ns, τ(Ga) = (7.0 ± 0.4) ns, τ(In) = (7.4 ± 0.3) ns, τ(Tl) = (7.8 ± 0.3) ns.

Journal of the Optical Society of America•Apr 1, 1977•22 citations

Direct measurements of Ba+ excited-state lifetimes

Mark D. Havey, L. C. Balling, J. J. Wright

The lifetimes of the $7s^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}$, $6d^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}}$, and $6d^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}}$ states of singly ionized Ba have been measured. The lifetime of each state was determined by direct observation of the decay of the fluorescence emitted from the excited state, following selective excitation by two-step, dye-laser excitation. The values obtained for the lifetimes were $\ensuremath{\tau}(7s^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})=7.91\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.56$ nsec, $\ensuremath{\tau}(6d^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=5.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.34$ nsec, and $\ensuremath{\tau}(6d^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=4.99\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.33$ nsec.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1977•3 citations

Measurement of Lifetimes of Excited States of Na, Tl, In, Ga, Cu, Ag, Pb, and Bi by the Phase-Shift Method

Paul T. Cunningham, John K. Link

Lifetimes of 13 upper states of optical-resonance transitions in selected metal atoms have been measured using the phase-shift method. Data were taken over a range of at least 12 of fluorescence intensity, to take into account the effects of radiation entrapment and exciting light scattering. The following results were obtained: Na 3p2P0 16.2 nsec, Tl 7s ²S12 7.65 nsec, Tl 6d²D32 6.9 nsec, In 6s ²S12 7.5 nsec, In 5d ²D32 7.9 nsec, In 5d ²D52 7.9 nsec, Ga 5s ²S12 7.6 nsec, Ga 4d2D 7.7 nsec, Cu 4p2P0 7.2 nsec, Ag 5p ²P120 6.7 nsec, Ag 5p ²P120 7.5 nsec, Pb 7s3P10 6.05 nsec, and Bi 7s ⁴P12 5.9 nsec. Estimated absolute accuracies vary between 3 and 7%.

Journal of the Optical Society of America•Aug 1, 1967•87 citations

Measurement of the lifetime of the P13 metastable state of Mg by dye-laser excitation

J. J. Wright, John F. Dawson, L. C. Balling

We have measured the lifetime of the $^{3}P_{1}$ metastable state of Mg and obtained a value of 2.2 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.2 msec. The level was excited with a dye laser tuned to the intercombination line ($3s3p^{3}P_{1}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}3{s}^{2}^{1}S_{0}$). In addition to the $^{3}P_{1}$ state, the $^{3}P_{2}$ and $^{3}P_{0}$ levels were populated by mixing collisions owing to the presence of an inert buffer gas. The populations of all three metastable levels were monitored as a function of time by observing the absorption of Mg resonance radiation ($^{3}P_{0,1,2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{3}S_{1}$) out of each level. The mixing time was short compared to the $^{3}P_{1}$ lifetime, so that the populations of the three metastable levels were in thermal equilibrium with each other. This produced an apparent lengthening of the $^{3}P_{1}$ lifetime, which would introduce a large systematic error if the degree of mixing were not known. Cenventionally, one observes the fluorescence from the excited levels to obtain their lifetimes. Because the lifetimes of the $^{3}P_{2}$ and $^{3}P_{0}$ states are too long, fluorescence from these states cannot be observed, and the observation of fluorescence from the $^{3}P_{1}$ state alone provides insufficient information to determine its lifetime.

Physical Review A•Jan 1, 1974•20 citations

Time Resolved Laser Spectroscopy of Rydberg States in Group IIIA and IIIA Elements

Goran B Jönsson

In this work radiative properties of neutral elements with one or two electrons outside closed subshells have been investigated. Using laser techniques in connection with atomic beams selective excitation of Rydberg states was performed. Most of the studied states were populated with two-step excitation. Some states were reached directly from the ground state or from a metastable state and occasionally two-photon absorption was used. The excitation sometimes involved the use of frequency-doubling and Raman- shifting techniques. By time-resolved detection of the decay light from an excited state, primarily information on the radiative lifetime is obtained. With two different experimental arrangements radiative lifetimes in several Rydberg states have been determined. Using the quantum-beat technique time-resolved detection also provides information on energy splittings. This technique was used to measure hyperfine-structure splittings.To obtain information about hyperfine-structure constants and isotope shifts high- resolution spectroscopy on a collimated atomic beam was also employed. The behaviour of highly excited alkali atoms is mostly hydrogen- like and well predicted by theory. Group III A elements have one electron outside a closed subshell and are expected to behave like alkali atoms. The situation is however complicated by the presence of doubly excited states. Configuration interaction can then cause a partial mixing between singly and doubly excited states. In the alkaline-earth atoms (group II A elements), having two electrons outside closed shells, the situation is similar. In a Rydberg series of one excited electron the admixture of doubly excited states can cause large deviations from hydrogenic behaviour. Another complication in the alkaline-earth atoms is the mixture of singlet- and triplet states. - 4 - The presented results from measurements made on Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga and In will primarily serve as a basis for tests of modern atomic-physics models. Some of the lifetime values are also of astrophysical interest. Keywords: Laser spectroscopy, Rydberg states, time resolved, high resolution, two-step excitation, metastable state, two-photon absorption, frequency doubling, Raman shifting, radiative lifetime, quantum beat, hyperfine structure, isotope shift, Stark shift, alkali atoms, group III A elements, alkaline-earth atoms, configuration interaction, singlet-triplet mixing.

Lund reports on atomic physics•Jan 1, 1984•0 citations

Remeasurement of the Mg P13 -state lifetime

Paul S. Furcinitti, J. J. Wright, L. C. Balling

The lifetime of the metastable $^{3}P_{1}$ state of Mg has been remeasured by a dye-laser excitation technique. The metastable state was populated by an intense pulse of 4571-\AA{} radiation from a flashlamp-pumped dye laser, and the decay of the population was monitored by observing the absorption of 5173-\AA{} resonance radiation from a Mg discharge lamp. The measured value for the $^{3}P_{1}$ lifetime is 4.5 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5 msec.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1975•33 citations
The lifetimes of a large number of excited states in the Group II and Group III atoms have been measured.Among these states are the 5s5p3Pj metastable state of Sr and the lowest 3Sj state of Mg, Ca, and Sr.Also measured were the lifetimes of the lowest 2Sa states of Al, Ga, In and Tl, and "2 the lifetimes of several andXD2 states of Ca.The ex cited states were populated by one-and two-step dye laser excitation, and the lifetimes determined by direct observa tion of the subsequent resonance or branching fluorescence.The results obtained for states in the triplet series of the Group II atoms are: t {Sr 3P ) =(21.0 ± 1.0)ysec, r{Mg 3Sl) = (9.7 ± 0.5) nsec, t(Ca 3S 1)= ( 11.7 ± 0.6) nsec,x(Sr 3Sj ) = (12.9± 0.7) nsec.ix CHAPTER X
The lifetimes of the 7s2S127s^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}7s2S21​​, 6d2D526d^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}}6d2D25​​, and 6d2D326d^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}}6d2D23​​ states of singly ionized Ba have been measured. The lifetime of each state was determined by direct observation of the decay of the fluorescence emitted from the excited state, following selective excitation by two-step, dye-laser excitation. The values obtained for the lifetimes were $\ensuremath{\tau}(7s^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})=7.91\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.56$ nsec, $\ensuremath{\tau}(6d^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=5.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.34$ nsec, and $\ensuremath{\tau}(6d^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=4.99\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.33$ nsec.
Lifetimes of 13 upper states of optical-resonance transitions in selected metal atoms have been measured using the phase-shift method. Data were taken over a range of at least 12 of fluorescence intensity, to take into account the effects of radiation entrapment and exciting light scattering. The following results were obtained: Na 3p2P0 16.2 nsec, Tl 7s ²S12 7.65 nsec, Tl 6d²D32 6.9 nsec, In 6s ²S12 7.5 nsec, In 5d ²D32 7.9 nsec, In 5d ²D52 7.9 nsec, Ga 5s ²S12 7.6 nsec, Ga 4d2D 7.7 nsec, Cu 4p2P0 7.2 nsec, Ag 5p ²P120 6.7 nsec, Ag 5p ²P120 7.5 nsec, Pb 7s3P10 6.05 nsec, and Bi 7s ⁴P12 5.9 nsec. Estimated absolute accuracies vary between 3 and 7%.
We have measured the lifetime of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ metastable state of Mg and obtained a value of 2.2 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.2 msec. The level was excited with a dye laser tuned to the intercombination line ($3s3p^{3}P_{1}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}3{s}^{2}^{1}S_{0}$). In addition to the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state, the 3P2^{3}P_{2}3P2​ and 3P0^{3}P_{0}3P0​ levels were populated by mixing collisions owing to the presence of an inert buffer gas. The populations of all three metastable levels were monitored as a function of time by observing the absorption of Mg resonance radiation ($^{3}P_{0,1,2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{3}S_{1}$) out of each level. The mixing time was short compared to the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ lifetime, so that the populations of the three metastable levels were in thermal equilibrium with each other. This produced an apparent lengthening of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ lifetime, which would introduce a large systematic error if the degree of mixing were not known. Cenventionally, one observes the fluorescence from the excited levels to obtain their lifetimes. Because the lifetimes of the 3P2^{3}P_{2}3P2​ and 3P0^{3}P_{0}3P0​ states are too long, fluorescence from these states cannot be observed, and the observation of fluorescence from the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state alone provides insufficient information to determine its lifetime.
In this work radiative properties of neutral elements with one or two electrons outside closed subshells have been investigated. Using laser techniques in connection with atomic beams selective excitation of Rydberg states was performed. Most of the studied states were populated with two-step excitation. Some states were reached directly from the ground state or from a metastable state and occasionally two-photon absorption was used. The excitation sometimes involved the use of frequency-doubling and Raman- shifting techniques. By time-resolved detection of the decay light from an excited state, primarily information on the radiative lifetime is obtained. With two different experimental arrangements radiative lifetimes in several Rydberg states have been determined. Using the quantum-beat technique time-resolved detection also provides information on energy splittings. This technique was used to measure hyperfine-structure splittings.To obtain information about hyperfine-structure constants and isotope shifts high- resolution spectroscopy on a collimated atomic beam was also employed. The behaviour of highly excited alkali atoms is mostly hydrogen- like and well predicted by theory. Group III A elements have one electron outside a closed subshell and are expected to behave like alkali atoms. The situation is however complicated by the presence of doubly excited states. Configuration interaction can then cause a partial mixing between singly and doubly excited states. In the alkaline-earth atoms (group II A elements), having two electrons outside closed shells, the situation is similar. In a Rydberg series of one excited electron the admixture of doubly excited states can cause large deviations from hydrogenic behaviour. Another complication in the alkaline-earth atoms is the mixture of singlet- and triplet states. - 4 - The presented results from measurements made on Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga and In will primarily serve as a basis for tests of modern atomic-physics models. Some of the lifetime values are also of astrophysical interest. Keywords: Laser spectroscopy, Rydberg states, time resolved, high resolution, two-step excitation, metastable state, two-photon absorption, frequency doubling, Raman shifting, radiative lifetime, quantum beat, hyperfine structure, isotope shift, Stark shift, alkali atoms, group III A elements, alkaline-earth atoms, configuration interaction, singlet-triplet mixing.
The lifetime of the metastable 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state of Mg has been remeasured by a dye-laser excitation technique. The metastable state was populated by an intense pulse of 4571-\AA{} radiation from a flashlamp-pumped dye laser, and the decay of the population was monitored by observing the absorption of 5173-\AA{} resonance radiation from a Mg discharge lamp. The measured value for the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ lifetime is 4.5 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5 msec.