Lifetimes of the 5d^96p levels in Au ii

Abstract
We report experimental lifetimes for 11 of the 12 5d96p levels of Au ii, determined by means of the beam-foil excitation method. The data are compared with theoretical calculations based on the Cowan group of programs. These first studies of Au ii lifetimes and transition probabilities were motivated largely by the need for such data in the analysis of high-resolution stellar spectroscopy done with the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope.