Transition Probabilities and Collision-Induced Transitions in Excited Levels of Neon

Abstract

Utilizing the interaction between the output of a He-Ne laser oscillating at 3.39 µm (3s2-3p4 transition in Ne) and excited neon atoms in a gas discharge, changes of the excited-population densities have been produced. These changes are observed as changes of intensity of spontaneous emission. By analyzing these intensity changes as functions of pressure, the approach to thermalization of the changes in the population densities of the 3s4 and 3s5 levels of neon has been observed. In this way the ratio of the transition probabilities for the 3s5-2p9 and the 3s4-3p8 transitions has been determined. This ratio is A5/A4 = 2.18±0.24.