LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS ON NITROGEN ION-BEAMS FROM A LOW-ENERGY ACCELERATOR

Previously reported experimental lifetimes for the 2p3p 3D levels of N+ vary from approximately 2 ns to about 20 ns. High-statistics decay curves for the 2p3p 3D levels in the current study show clear evidence of a short-lived cascade and a 18.5-ns main component. Decay curves for two of the important cascade levels were also obtained, along with decay curves for the 3p 1D laser levels. These curves were subjected to a systematic deletion-of-points curve-fitting routine which was evaluated using Monte Carlo generated decay curves. Level lifetimes (in ns), associated statistical errors, and total estimated uncertainties obtained from the experimental decay curves are: 2p3p 3D: 18.50 +/- 0.72 (7%); 2p3d 3F-degrees: 8.23 +/- 0.28 (6%); 2p4f 3G: 2.93 +/- 0.18 (10%); 2p3p 1D: 6.42 +/- 0.13 (5%).