THE DECAY OF THE POPULATIONS OF NEON ATOMS IN THE 2p53s LEVELS

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Abstract
Improved apparatus has been designed to determine the rate of decay after excitation of the populations of the four states in the 1s22s22p53s configuration of neon. An absorption method is employed. Measurements show that the population of the 3P2 state decays exponentially. The decay curves for the 3P1 and 3P0 states may be expressed as the sum of two exponential rates of decay. Atoms in the 1P1 state disappear very rapidly making measurements difficult; the decay is assumed to be exponential. Curves of mean life as obtained from these exponentials are plotted against pressure for all four states. The initial populations of the four states, determined from initial absorption, are of the order of 109 atoms per cc. and are plotted as a function of pressure. Within the limits of error the populations so calculated are the same for different absorption lines.

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