Transition probabilities and lifetimes in gold (Au I and Au II)

Abstract

Radiative lifetimes of three odd-parity levels of neutral gold (Au I) and one odd-parity level of singly ionized gold (Au II), measured using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique, have allowed the testing of the reliability of a relativistic Hartree–Fock model of the atomic structure taking configuration interaction and core-polarization effects into account. The importance of the inclusion of the latter effects in the calculations is emphasized. The laser-induced fluorescence lifetimes, combined with the theoretical branching fractions, have allowed us to deduce oscillator strengths for six 5d96s2–5d96s6p and 5d106s–5d96s6p transitions of Au I and for sixty-three 5d96s–5d96p, 5d96p–5d97s and 5d10–5d96p UV transitions of Au II.