EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF ATOMIC LIFETIMES FOR THE 2P(5)3L LEVELSIN NE-LIKE SULFUR

This paper reports an experimental investigation of lifetimes of the 2 p(5)3l levels in S VII, using the beam-foil method. Results are also g iven for some levels belonging to the 2p(5)4p, 4f and 5g configuration s. All 3l lifetimes are obtained after extensive cascade corrections u tilizing the non-linear ANDC technique along the decay chain 2p(6)-2p( 5)3s-3p-3d-4f-5g. This work is the first investigation in the Ne-seque nce to incorporate cascade corrections also for the 3d levels, and thi s is found to reduce the lifetimes by about 20% compared to previous e xperimental studies. For the very rapid 3s (1)p(1) decay, which is mea sured using the resonance transition at 72 Angstrom, we find that subt raction of the foil-position dependent background is important for a p roper analysis and that this correction leads to a reduction in the ev aluated lifetime by about 15%. With these experimental improvements al l 3l lifetimes obtained are in good general agreement with recent theo retical predictions.