EXPERIMENTAL TRANSITION-PROBABILITIES FOR INTERCOMBINATION LINES IN N-IV, OV AND F-VI

Lifetime measurements using the beam-foil method are reported for the 2s 3p 3P0, 1, 2levels in N IV, O V and F VI. The 3P1level lifetime is significantly shorter than those for 3P0and 3P2. This is due to the 2s21S0-2s3p 3P1intercombination transition. From careful lifetime measurements at several ion energies we obtain transition probabilities of (3.3 ± 2.7) ⨯ 106, (22 ± 6) ⨯ 106and (88 ± 9) ⨯ 106s-1for this spin-forbidden transition in N IV, O V and F VI, respectively. These results are supported by theoretical analyses. © 1979 IOP Publishing Ltd.