Atomic Lifetimes in Neon I

Mean lives of a number of electronically excited atomic levels in Ne i have been determined using a method of delayed coincidence. Following a detailed description of the experimental procedure and a discussion of a series of trial runs in He i, the measured values of the mean lives of the $2p_1$ through $2p_9$, $3p_1$, $3p_{10}$, and $4{d_1}^{\prime }$ (Paschen notation) levels in neutral neon are given. These lifetimes, determined from transitions with associated wavelengths extending from ≈3400 to ≈6400 Å, ranged in value from ≈ 14 to ≈ 500 nsec. The lifetimes were estimated to contain possible systematic errors varying from 5 to 20% and are presented in comparison with corresponding results of other workers.