Lifetimes of the 9s and 8p levels of atomic francium
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-3800 (United States)
We use time-correlated single-photon counting techniques on a sample of {sup 210}Fr atoms confined and cooled in a magneto-optical trap to measure the lifetimes of the 9S{sub 1/2}, 8P{sub 3/2}, and 8P{sub 1/2} excited levels. We populate the 9S{sub 1/2} level by two-photon resonant excitation through the 7P{sub 1/2} level. The direct measurement of the 9S{sub 1/2} decay through the 7P{sub 3/2} level at 851 nm gives a lifetime of 107.53{+-}0.90 ns. We observe the decay of the 9S{sub 1/2} level through the 8P{sub 3/2} level at 423 nm and the 8P{sub 1/2} level at 433 nm down to the 7S{sub 1/2} ground level, and indirectly determine the lifetimes of these to be 83.5{+-}1.5 ns and 149.3{+-}3.5 ns, respectively.
- OSTI ID:
- 20646356
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. A, Vol. 70, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.70.042504; (c) 2004 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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