Accurate lifetime measurements of the lowestP122states in neutral lithium and sodium

Abstract
By observing the decay in flight of laser-excited atoms in a fast atomic beam with energy between 60 and 150 keV, lifetimes of the Li2P122 and Na3P122 are measured to be (27.29±0.04) and (16.40±0.03) nsec, respectively (uncertainties are one standard deviation).