The Effect of Temperature on the Duration of theP23Metastable Level of Neon

Abstract

Using the light absorption method, the duration of the ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P_2^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ metastable level of neon has been measured as a function of pressure at the temperatures of boiling water, ice, dry ice-alcohol, and liquid nitrogen. At pressures below 1 mm of mercury departure from Zemansky's formula is found only at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, while at pressures above 2 mm departures are found at all temperatures.