LIFETIME OF THE METASTABLE 6S' [1 2](0) CLOCK STATE IN XENON/

To investigate the potential of a proposed optical frequency standard, we have measured the lifetime of the metastable 6s' [1/2](0) state in xenon. Magneto-optically trapped xenon atoms were prepared in the 6s' [1/2](0) state, and the time dependence of the vacuum-ultraviolet dec ay signature was analyzed. The total decay rate of 75(3) s(-1) is the sum of a 7.8(38)-s(-1) spontaneous emission rate(1 - sigma uncertainti es) and a much larger deexcitation rate that is due to a transition dr iven by room-temperature blackbody radiation.