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Physical Review A

Lifetime of the 2P11 and 3P11 States of Atomic Helium

James M. Burger, Allen Lurio

Published Jan 1, 1971• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The radiative lifetime of the $2^{1}P_{1}$ and $3^{1}P_{1}$ state of atomic helium has been measured by the level-crossing technique. In the experiment, a beam of $2^{1}S_{0}$ metastable atoms was first produced and then excited to the $2^{1}P_{1}$ or $3^{1}P_{1}$ 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 $^{1}P_{1}$ states decayed to the $1^{1}S_{0}$ 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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.3.64

Related papers

Radiative Lifetime of the 2 S01 Metastable State of Helium

Robert S. Van Dyck, C. E. Johnson, Howard A. Shugart

A time-of-flight technique has been used to measure the radiative lifetime of the $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ state of helium. After passing from a cooled source, helium atoms are excited by a pulsed anti-parallel electron beam. The atomic beam then contains not only ground-state helium atoms but also metastable atoms in both the $2 ^{3}S_{1}$ and the $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ states. The metastable atoms are detected at two positions, 1.9 and 6.7 m from the electron gun, by Auger ejection of an electron from a copper target, the first of which is a 60% transmitting mesh. Ground-state helium atoms cannot cause an electron to be ejected and hence are not detected. The time-of-flight distribution for the metastable $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ state is separated from that of the $2 ^{3}S_{1}$ state by illuminating the beam with an rf-discharge helium lamp. The $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ state is quenched by resonant absorption of a 20 581 - \AA{}A photon, raising the atom to the $2 ^{1}P_{1}$ state, which then decays preferentially to the $^{1}S_{0}$ ground state; the $2 ^{3}S_{1}$ state remains unaffected because it is the ground state for the triplet system. The time-of-flight distribution for the $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ atoms is therefore obtained from the difference between the full beam and the quenched beam. A comparison of the number of $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ metastables within a given velocity interval at the two detectors determines the number which decay in flight and yields a value for the two-photon radiative lifetime. The value of the singlet lifetime for both ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ is 19.7 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.0 msec, agreeing with the theoretical value of 19.5 msec, but disagreeing with the value 38 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 8 msec measured by Pearl using a movable detector. The 1.0-msec error is an estimate of the remaining systematic errors in the experiment.

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Hanle Effect in 2P1 Helium

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The oscillator strength for the resonance ($1^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$) transition in atomic helium has been determined from a measurement of the lifetime of the $2^{1}P$ state. This lifetime was obtained using a modified zero-field level crossing (Hanle) method. The scattering sample was a thermal velocity beam of $2^{1}S$ metastable atoms. Resonant 2-\ensuremath{\mu} ($2^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$) radiation is absorbed by the $2^{1}S$ atoms, which are excited to the $2^{1}P$ state. This state then primarily decays to the ground $1^{1}S$ state with the emission of resonance (584 \AA{}) radiation. The lifetime of the $2^{1}P$ state was determined from measurements of the magnetic-field dependence of the angular distribution of the 584 \AA{} intensity. This new technique eliminates the problem of constructing a vacuum ultraviolet resonance lamp. The measured lifetime $\ensuremath{\tau} (2^{1}P)$ is (5.63 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.22) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec. The resulting absorption oscillator strength for the resonance transition is 0.273 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.011. This oscillator strength agrees with the theoretical value.

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Metastable Helium: A New Determination of the Longest Atomic Excited-State Lifetime

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Exited atoms may relax to the ground state by radiative decay, a process which is usually very fast (of order nanoseconds). However, quantum-mechanical selection rules can prevent such rapid decay, in which case these "metastable" states can have lifetimes of order seconds or longer. In this Letter, we determine experimentally the lifetime of the longest-lived neutral atomic state-the first excited state of helium (the 2(3)S1 metastable state)-to the highest accuracy yet measured. We use laser cooling and magnetic trapping to isolate a cloud of metastable helium (He*) atoms from their surrounding environment, and measure the decay rate to the ground 1(1)S0 state via extreme ultraviolet (XUV) photon emission. This is the first measurement using a virtually unperturbed ensemble of isolated helium atoms, and yields a value of 7870(510) seconds, in excellent agreement with the predictions of quantum electrodynamic theory.

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Radiative lifetime of metastable 2S13 Li+

Randall D. Knight, Michael H. Prior

The radiative lifetime of $1s2s^{3}S_{1}$ ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ 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 $1s2p^{3}P_{1}$ to $1{s}^{2}^{1}S_{0}$ at 202 \AA{}. The $^{3}P_{1}$ state was populated from $^{3}S_{1}$ 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.

Physical Review A•Jan 1, 1980•50 citations

Radiative Lifetime of the Metastable 2S01 State of Helium

Robert S. Van Dyck, C. E. Johnson, Howard A. Shugart

Two fixed, spatially separated detectors are used to measure the decay in flight of a cooled, thermal beam of pulsed metastable helium atoms. The preliminary value obtained for the radiative lifetime of the metastable $2^{1}S_{0}$ state of helium is 20 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 2 msec.

Physical Review Letters•Nov 16, 1970•38 citations
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 \ensuremathτ(21P1)=(5.57\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.15)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−10\ensuremath{\tau} (2^{1}P_{1})=(5.57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\ensuremathτ(21P1​)=(5.57\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.15)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−10 sec and \ensuremathτ(31P1)=(1.73\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.11)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−9\ensuremath{\tau} (3^{1}P_{1})=(1.73\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}\ensuremathτ(31P1​)=(1.73\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.11)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−9 sec. These values are in excellent agreement with theory.
A time-of-flight technique has been used to measure the radiative lifetime of the 21S02 ^{1}S_{0}21S0​ state of helium. After passing from a cooled source, helium atoms are excited by a pulsed anti-parallel electron beam. The atomic beam then contains not only ground-state helium atoms but also metastable atoms in both the 23S12 ^{3}S_{1}23S1​ and the 21S02 ^{1}S_{0}21S0​ states. The metastable atoms are detected at two positions, 1.9 and 6.7 m from the electron gun, by Auger ejection of an electron from a copper target, the first of which is a 60% transmitting mesh. Ground-state helium atoms cannot cause an electron to be ejected and hence are not detected. The time-of-flight distribution for the metastable 21S02 ^{1}S_{0}21S0​ state is separated from that of the 23S12 ^{3}S_{1}23S1​ state by illuminating the beam with an rf-discharge helium lamp. The 21S02 ^{1}S_{0}21S0​ state is quenched by resonant absorption of a 20 581 - \AA{}A photon, raising the atom to the 21P12 ^{1}P_{1}21P1​ state, which then decays preferentially to the 1S0^{1}S_{0}1S0​ ground state; the 23S12 ^{3}S_{1}23S1​ state remains unaffected because it is the ground state for the triplet system. The time-of-flight distribution for the 21S02 ^{1}S_{0}21S0​ atoms is therefore obtained from the difference between the full beam and the quenched beam. A comparison of the number of 21S02 ^{1}S_{0}21S0​ metastables within a given velocity interval at the two detectors determines the number which decay in flight and yields a value for the two-photon radiative lifetime. The value of the singlet lifetime for both He3{\mathrm{He}}^{3}He3 and He4{\mathrm{He}}^{4}He4 is 19.7 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.0 msec, agreeing with the theoretical value of 19.5 msec, but disagreeing with the value 38 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 8 msec measured by Pearl using a movable detector. The 1.0-msec error is an estimate of the remaining systematic errors in the experiment.
The oscillator strength for the resonance ($1^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$) transition in atomic helium has been determined from a measurement of the lifetime of the 21P2^{1}P21P state. This lifetime was obtained using a modified zero-field level crossing (Hanle) method. The scattering sample was a thermal velocity beam of 21S2^{1}S21S metastable atoms. Resonant 2-\ensuremath{\mu} ($2^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$) radiation is absorbed by the 21S2^{1}S21S atoms, which are excited to the 21P2^{1}P21P state. This state then primarily decays to the ground 11S1^{1}S11S state with the emission of resonance (584 \AA{}) radiation. The lifetime of the 21P2^{1}P21P state was determined from measurements of the magnetic-field dependence of the angular distribution of the 584 \AA{} intensity. This new technique eliminates the problem of constructing a vacuum ultraviolet resonance lamp. The measured lifetime $\ensuremath{\tau} (2^{1}P)$ is (5.63 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.22) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec. The resulting absorption oscillator strength for the resonance transition is 0.273 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.011. This oscillator strength agrees with the theoretical value.
Exited atoms may relax to the ground state by radiative decay, a process which is usually very fast (of order nanoseconds). However, quantum-mechanical selection rules can prevent such rapid decay, in which case these "metastable" states can have lifetimes of order seconds or longer. In this Letter, we determine experimentally the lifetime of the longest-lived neutral atomic state-the first excited state of helium (the 2(3)S1 metastable state)-to the highest accuracy yet measured. We use laser cooling and magnetic trapping to isolate a cloud of metastable helium (He*) atoms from their surrounding environment, and measure the decay rate to the ground 1(1)S0 state via extreme ultraviolet (XUV) photon emission. This is the first measurement using a virtually unperturbed ensemble of isolated helium atoms, and yields a value of 7870(510) seconds, in excellent agreement with the predictions of quantum electrodynamic theory.
The cross section for the transfer of excitation from the 23P02^{3}P_{0}23P0​ level of helium to the 23P12^{3}P_{1}23P1​ and 23P22^{3}P_{2}23P2​ levels as a result of collisions with the ground-state helium atom (11S01^{1}S_{0}11S0​) has been measured with a conventional resonance-fluorescence technique. A He4{\mathrm{He}}^{4}He4 source excited the $2^{3}S_{1}\ensuremath{-}2^{3}P_{0}$ transition in a He3{\mathrm{He}}^{3}He3 absorption cell. The scattered light was examined with a high-resolution grating spectrometer and the ratio of the $2^{3}P_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2^{3}S_{1}$ to the $2^{3}P_{1,2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2^{3}S_{1}$ intensities was measured as a function of cell pressure from 0.05 to 10 Torr. The cross section for collision-induced transitions out of the 23P02^{3}P_{0}23P0​ level is found to be (68\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 at room temperature.
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.
Two fixed, spatially separated detectors are used to measure the decay in flight of a cooled, thermal beam of pulsed metastable helium atoms. The preliminary value obtained for the radiative lifetime of the metastable 21S02^{1}S_{0}21S0​ state of helium is 20 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 2 msec.