Energy level lifetimes obtained from ANDC analyses for the 3 d4F0J ( J = 3/2, 5/2, 7/2, 9/2) energy levels in NIII

Abstract

An in-depth cascade-corrected energy level lifetime analysis of the 3 d 4 F 0 3/2, 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 energy levels in N III was undertaken by studying the primary 3 d 4 F 0 J -3 p 4 D J transitions, as well as investigating the influence of all major cascading levels, namely the higher lying 4 p 4 D J , 4 f 4 D J , 4 f 4 F J and 4 f 4 G J energy levels. A few of these levels were indeed found to have a marked influence on the lifetimes of the 3 d 4 F 0 J energy levels. These influences were studied using a multi-exponential curve-fitting technique, as well as the now well-proved ANDC (Arbitrarily Normalized Decay Curve) technique. The Beam-foil method using these techniques is expected to provide a reliable and consistent experimental check on the various theoretical calculations. The present paper describes beam-foil measurements of the lifetimes of a number of 2 s 1 2 p 1 ( 3 P 0)3 d, 4 p and 4 f levels in N III.