Cascade effects in neon life time measurements

Abstract

Alignment cascade phenomena have been studied in the neon 2p levels (Paschen notation) Hanle effect and double resonance techniques in a mild discharge. The levels are aligned directly by an optical excitation mechanism. Most 2p levels show evidence of alignment cascade from the 2s4, 3s1 or 3d levels below 0.1 Torr; addition of argon impurities greatly enhances the cascade signal relative to the direct alignment signal. Data used previously in pressure broadening studies are shown to be free of cascade errors and are used to establish upper limits for the 2p level life times. A correction for coherence narrowing is estimated; this gives natural life times systematically less than those obtained by methods in which cascade effects are not carefully eliminated. In common with other Hanle effect measurements for these levels the values are marginally smaller than the threshold life times of Bennett and Kindlmann (1966).