LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS IN ODD-PARITY RYDBERG SERIES OF NEUTRAL LEAD BYTIME-RESOLVED LASER SPECTROSCOPY

Natural radiative lifetimes have been measured in the odd-parity Rydbe rg series 6pns (n=7-13) and 6pnd (n=6-13) of neutral lead using time-r esolved UV laser-induced fluorescence from a laser-produced plasma. A relativistic Hartree-Fock calculation taking configuration interaction into account in a detailed way has also been performed for odd-as wel l as even-parity states for testing the ability of this approach to co rrectly predict radiative properties of heavy atoms. A generally good overall agreement between experimental and theoretical lifetimes has b een achieved except for a few levels.