Radiative lifetimes of neutral neodymium

• Published in: Journal of physics. B, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Atomic, molecular, and optical physics, 2011-11, Vol.44 (22), p.225001-1-5, Article 225001
• Main Authors: Den Hartog, E A, Fittante, A J, Lawler, J E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescence; Illumination; Intensities and shapes of atomic spectral lines; Neodymium; Neutral atoms; Oscillator strengths, lifetimes, transition moments; Parity; Physics; Radiative lifetime; Rare earth metals; Transition probabilities
• ISSN: 0953-4075; 1361-6455
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-4075/44/22/225001

This work is part of an on-going study of radiative properties of rare earth neutral atoms. This work is motivated by research needs in several disparate fields including astrophysics and lighting technology. Radiative lifetimes of 100 levels of neutral neodymium are measured using the technique of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence on a slow atomic beam. Of the 100 levels, 3 are even parity ranging in energy from 25 746 to 26 835 cm super(-1), and the remaining 97 are odd parity ranging from 17 787 to 27 786 cm super(-1). This set of Nd I lifetimes represents a significant extension to the available published data, with 51 of the 100 level lifetimes measured for the first time. These data, which are accurate to plus or minus 5%, provide the absolute normalization for a large set of measured Nd I transition probabilities.