Natural radiative lifetimes have been measured along the $6sns$ ${}^3{S}_1$ $(n=7\mathrm{}–10)$ and $6snd$ ${}^3{D}_1$ $(n=6\mathrm{}–11)$ Rydberg series of neutral mercury using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy in a laser-produced mercury plasma. The states of Hg I investigated in the present work were populated from the ground state by a stepwise excitation process. Relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations, including intravalence interactions and core-polarization effects, have been performed and the theoretical lifetimes have been compared with the measurements.

• Received 18 January 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.66.032509