ISSN:
1434-6036
Keywords:
67.40.Yv
;
32.50.+d
;
32.70.Fw
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The metastable 3s3p3P0, 1, 2 states of the magnesium atom immersed into superfluid helium have been investigated. Absorption-fluorescence measurements were carried out to monitor the population of the3P0,3P1 and3P2 level as a function of time. The population of these levels was found to decrease exponentially with a constant of τ=15±2 ms. This is about three times as long as the vacuum lifetime of the3P1 level. In the resonant excitation band of the 3s3p3P states to the 3s4s3S state a blueshift of 70 nm compared to the emission and a large broadening were detected. The3P2 and3P0 states are not at all metastable any more. Additionally the weak intercombination transition of the3P1 state to the1S0 ground state was investigated by monitoring this emission line as a function of time and of wavelength. The experiments resulted in the same exponential decay time as the excitation measurement. This outcome indicates a rather effective fine structure mixing of the considered Mg states in superfluid helium. Moreover, this raises the question whether common atomic quantum numbers are conserved and the selection rules are still valid.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01338413
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