Radiative Lifetimes for the2pπΠu3State of the Hydrogen Molecule

A calculation is made of the radiative electric dipole transition probabilities coupling the vibrational levels of the $2p\pi {}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\Pi _u^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ and the $2s\sigma {}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\Sigma _g^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ electronic states of hydrogen. The radiative lifetimes for those vibrational levels lying above the ground state are found to be approximately 100 μsec. The lifetime of the ground vibrational level, decaying by magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole emissions, is estimated to be 1 msec. Finally, a calculation is made of the dependence of the radiative lifetimes upon an external electric field.