ATOMIC LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS BY BEAM GAS DYE-LASER SPECTROSCOPY

Beam-gas-dye laser spectroscopy as a precise, cascade-free and collisi on-free method for measuring atomic lifetimes and individual oscillato r strengths is described. Its recent application to fine-structure lev els of the KrI 5p configuration is reported. The experimental uncertai nty is reduced by one order of magnitude, with respect to previous wor k, down to 0.3% (1sigma). The discussion of these results in compariso n with experimental and theoretical ones from the literature underline s the precision of the method and its potential to guide future theore tical developments.