RADIATIVE LIFETIMES AND INTRAMULTIPLET MIXING RATE CONSTANTS FOR GA(4D) ATOMS IN AR

Abstract

Radiative lifetimes for Ga(4d(2)D(3/2)) and Ga(4d(2)D(5/2)) states have been investigated by a laser-induced fluorescence technique. The individual spin-orbit state of Ga(4d) atoms was formed from the Ga(4p(2)P(3/2)) atoms generated by a pulsed discharge of a trimethyl gallium and Ar mixture. The radiative lifetimes for the Ga(4d(2)D(3/2)) and Ga(4d(2)D(5/2)) states are 7.5 +/- 0.2 and 9.0 +/- 0.3 ns, respectively, and the two states are strongly coupled in Ar. The intramultiplet mixing rate constants assigned from kinetic simulations of time profiles are (12 +/- 3) X 10(-10) and (8 +/- 2) X 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively.