Determination of radiative lifetimes of neutral bismuth by time-resolved uv-vuv laser spectroscopy.

Abstract

Time-resolved laser spectroscopy was used to measure natural radiative lifetimes of ten excited states of neutral bismuth. Four levels of the 6p(2)ns (4)p(1/2) sequence (n = 7,8,9,10) and the 6p(2)7s P-4(3/2),(5/2) and 6p(2)nd(2)D(2/3;5/2) (n = 6,7) levels were investigated. The results are compared with previous data when possible. Revised absolute transition probabilities for 26 lines are given. Several levels required vacuum-ultraviolet (vuv) excitation, which was achieved by stimulated anti-Stokes Raman shifting of frequency-tripled dye-laser radiation in high-pressure H-2 gas.