Lifetime measurements of the Kr III 5p 5P 3 level using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

Abstract

The radiative lifetime of the Kr III 5p 5P 3 level has been measured by the technique of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence and a novel ion source. In a first step doubly charged krypton ions are prepared by the combination of a pulsed electron beam and a pulsed hollow cathode discharge. In a second step the selective excitation of the level under investigation is performed with subnanosecond laser pulses from a frequency stabilized distributed-feedback dye laser system. A lifetime of τ=5.7 (3) ns is found for the 5p 5P 3 level.