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Physical Review A

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

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

Published Jan 1, 1974• 20 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.9.83

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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

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We demonstrate an accurate method for measuring the lifetime of long-lived metastable magnetic states using a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Through optical pumping, the metastable $(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}$ level is populated in a standard MOT. During the optical pumping process, a fraction of the population is captured in the magnetic quadrupole field of the MOT. When the metastable atoms decay to the $(3{s}^{2})\text{ }{^{1}S}_{0}$ ground state they are recaptured into the MOT. In this system no alternative cascading transition is possible. The lifetime of the metastable level is measured directly as an exponential load time of the MOT. We have experimentally tested our method by measuring the lifetime of the $(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}$ of $^{24}\text{M}\text{g}$. This lifetime has been measured numerous times previously, but with quite different results. Using our method we find the $(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}$ lifetime to be $(4.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\text{ }\text{ms}$. Theoretical values point toward a lower value for the lifetime.

Physical Review A•Jun 2, 2008•11 citations
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 (3P0,1,2\ensuremath→3S1^{3}P_{0,1,2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{3}S_{1}3P0,1,2​\ensuremath→3S1​) 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.
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.
The radiative lifetime of 1s2s3S11s2s^{3}S_{1}1s2s3S1​ Li+{\mathrm{Li}}^{+}Li+ ions has been measured by a comparison of the count rate of spontaneous decay photons (210 \AA{}) to a laser-induced fluorescence signal proportional to the total number of metastable ions. The ions were confined in a rf-quadrupole trap, and the fluorescence signal used was the intercombination transition 1s2p3P11s2p^{3}P_{1}1s2p3P1​ to $1{s}^{2}^{1}S_{0}$ at 202 \AA{}. The 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state was populated from 3S1^{3}S_{1}3S1​ by absorption of laser photons at 5485 \AA{}. The result is ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}=58.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}12.9$ sec (95% confidence level); theory predicts ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}=49.1$ sec.
The lifetime of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state of Sr has been measured by observing the intensity of the $5{s}^{2}^{1}S_{0}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}5s5p^{3}P_{1}$ fluorescence as a function of time, following the excitation of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state by a 1-\ensuremath{\mu}sec pulse from a flashlamppumped dye laser. The measured value of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ lifetime is 21 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1 \ensuremath{\mu}sec.
The radiative lifetime of the 21P12^{1}P_{1}21P1​ and 31P13^{1}P_{1}31P1​ state of atomic helium has been measured by the level-crossing technique. In the experiment, a beam of 21S02^{1}S_{0}21S0​ metastable atoms was first produced and then excited to the 21P12^{1}P_{1}21P1​ or 31P13^{1}P_{1}31P1​ state with resonance radiation. The lifetimes were measured by observing the zero-field level-crossing signals in the detected 584- or 537-\AA{} fluorescent radiation when these 1P1^{1}P_{1}1P1​ states decayed to the 11S01^{1}S_{0}11S0​ ground state. The results are $\ensuremath{\tau} (2^{1}P_{1})=(5.57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec and $\ensuremath{\tau} (3^{1}P_{1})=(1.73\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ sec. These values are in excellent agreement with theory.
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
We demonstrate an accurate method for measuring the lifetime of long-lived metastable magnetic states using a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Through optical pumping, the metastable (3s3p) 3P1(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}(3s3p) 3P1​ level is populated in a standard MOT. During the optical pumping process, a fraction of the population is captured in the magnetic quadrupole field of the MOT. When the metastable atoms decay to the (3s2) 1S0(3{s}^{2})\text{ }{^{1}S}_{0}(3s2) 1S0​ ground state they are recaptured into the MOT. In this system no alternative cascading transition is possible. The lifetime of the metastable level is measured directly as an exponential load time of the MOT. We have experimentally tested our method by measuring the lifetime of the (3s3p) 3P1(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}(3s3p) 3P1​ of 24Mg^{24}\text{M}\text{g}24Mg. This lifetime has been measured numerous times previously, but with quite different results. Using our method we find the (3s3p) 3P1(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}(3s3p) 3P1​ lifetime to be $(4.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\text{ }\text{ms}$. Theoretical values point toward a lower value for the lifetime.