Non-metastability of the 5d9(2D3/2)6s26p1/2J=2 level in Hg

Abstract
Ab initio calculations of both the radiative and autoionisation lifetimes of levels of the 5d96s26p configuration suggest that the recent interpretation of a new metastable level as 5d9(2D3/ 2)6s26p1/2 J=2 in Hg is in error. The authors suggest an alternative relatively long-lived level, 5d9(2D5/2)6s26p3/2 J=3, may account for the observations.