RADIATIVE LIFETIMES AND INTRAMULTIPLET MIXING RATE CONSTANTS FOR GA(4D) ATOMS IN AR

Radiative lifetimes for Ga(4d(2)D(3/2)) and Ga(4d(2)D(5/2)) states hav e been investigated by a laser-induced fluorescence technique. The ind ividual spin-orbit state of Ga(4d) atoms was formed from the Ga(4p(2)P (3/2)) atoms generated by a pulsed discharge of a trimethyl gallium an d Ar mixture. The radiative lifetimes for the Ga(4d(2)D(3/2)) and Ga(4 d(2)D(5/2)) states are 7.5 +/- 0.2 and 9.0 +/- 0.3 ns, respectively, a nd the two states are strongly coupled in Ar. The intramultiplet mixin g rate constants assigned from kinetic simulations of time profiles ar e (12 +/- 3) X 10(-10) and (8 +/- 2) X 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1 ), respectively.