Measurements of the radiative lifetimes of MgO(B 1Σ +, d 3Δ, D 1Δ) states

Abstract

MgO molecules have been produced in X 1Σ +, a 3Π, and a 1Π dark states by the Mg ( 1S 0) + N 2O (X 1Σ +) reaction in an experiment performed with pulsed, crossed, supersonic molecular beams. Analysis of fluorescence decays following pulsed dye-laser excitation of the MgO reaction product has resulted in radiative lifetime determinations of the B 1Σ + v=0–3, d 3Δ and D 1Δ states. The following values have been found at 95% confidence level: B 1Σ + state, τ υ=0=21.5±1.8 ns, τ υ=1=21.9±2.1 ns, τ υ=2=21.7±2.0 ns, τ υ=3=21.5±3.2 ns; d 3Δ state, τ υ=0=7.8±1.8 ns; D 1Δ state, τ υ=0=4.3±1.0 ns.