Flame spectroscopy of TiO. Radiative lifetimes and oscillator strengths of the α ( C3∆- X3∆) system

Lifetimes of the C³∆ state of TiO have been measured for vibrational levels v' = 0 to 2 from the decay of photoluminescence excited in a chemiluminescent flame by a short-pulsed (5 nsec) tunable dye laser. Radiative lifetimes of τ_v'=0 = 37 ± 9 nsec, τ_v'=1 = 29 ± 7 nsec, τ_v'=2 = 28 ± 7 nsec were obtained and were used to estimate oscillator strengths which were found to be in good agreement with earlier values based on intensity measurements.