Lifetimes of Some Levels in Neutral Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen

Abstract
Radiative lifetimes of a number of transitions to excited levels in neutral C, N and O have been directly measured using the High Frequency Deflection technique. With one exception, these lifetimes have not been experimentally studied earlier. The results are compared to Coulomb approximation calculations and to semi-empirical estimates as well as to very recent calculations including configuration interactions. A number of these visible and near infrared transitions have been utilized for estimating the solar C, N, and O abundances, and slight modifications are now suggested in some cases in view of the new f-values.