Lifetime measurements in odd-parity Rydberg series of neutral lead by time-resolved laser spectroscopy

Natural radiative lifetimes have been measured in the odd-parity Rydberg series $6pns$ $(n=7--13)$ and $6pnd$ $(n=6--13)$ of neutral lead using time-resolved UV laser-induced fluorescence from a laser-produced plasma. A relativistic Hartree-Fock calculation taking configuration interaction into account in a detailed way has also been performed for odd- as well as even-parity states for testing the ability of this approach to correctly predict radiative properties of heavy atoms. A generally good overall agreement between experimental and theoretical lifetimes has been achieved except for a few levels.