The lifetime of the bound excited level in Ni${}^{-}$

Abstract

The intrinsic lifetime of the upper level in the bound-bound 3d${}^9$4s${}^2$ ${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ $\to$ 3d${}^9$4s${}^2$ ${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$ radiative transition in Ni${}^{-}$ was measured to be 15.1 $\pm$ 0.4 s. The experiment was performed at cryogenic temperatures in one of the ion-beam storage rings of the DESIREE (Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring Experiment) facility at Stockholm University. The storage lifetime of the Ni${}^{-}$ ion-beam was measured to be close to five minutes at a ring temperature of 13 K.

12 pages, 5 figures