REVIEW: The measurement of lifetimes in atoms, molecules and ions
Abstract
This review deals with the measurement of lifetimes of atoms and molecules in the gas phase, in the range 10 to the negative 10th to 10 to the negative 5th sec, and concentrates on the more accurate and promising techniques, which are grouped together according to whether their most prominent feature is the means of excitation or the interference between excited levels or the coincident detection of two decay events. Possible sources of systematic error are discussed at length and the theoretical background appropriate to the measurements is given when necessary. The techniques and their areas of applicability are compared and the likely future development of them is discussed. This review was completed in February 1976.
- Publication:
-
Reports on Progress in Physics
- Pub Date:
- January 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0034-4885/40/1/001
- Bibcode:
- 1977RPPh...40....1I
- Keywords:
-
- Atomic Excitations;
- Instrument Errors;
- Ionized Gases;
- Life (Durability);
- Molecular Excitation;
- Monatomic Gases;
- Time Measurement;
- Decay Rates;
- Electron Impact;
- Error Analysis;
- Molecular Gases;
- Radiative Lifetime;
- Relaxation Time;
- Atomic and Molecular Physics