Measured radiative lifetimes for H2 and HD in the E,F 1Σ+g electronic state

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Abstract
We have used tunable, pulsed ultraviolet laserradiation to prepare H2 and HD in selected rovibronic levels of the E,F 1Σ+ g electronic state. This state is accessible from the ground state,X 1Σ+ g , by means of two‐photon excitation. Subsequent absorption of near infrared laser radiation by molecules prepared in the E,F 1Σ+ g state produces ions that are detected by a time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Radiative lifetimes of individual rovibronic levels are determined by measuring the ion signal as a function of the time delay between the ultraviolet and near‐infrared laser pulses. A decreasing exponential function is fit to the ion signal associated with a particular rovibrational level to obtain its liftime. Measured lifetimes are in good agreement with previously reported theoretical lifetimes and the single previous measurement.