Radiative trapping and self-reversal of non-resonance transitions in rare gases

A number of 2 p i to 1 s f non-resonance transitions in rare gases have been studied at high spectral resolution using a new kind of scanning monochromater. It is found that, at certain experimental conditions, many of these lines might be subjected to very strong self-reversal effects. These effects seen on the line shapes are discussed in relation to wavelength measurements and to earlier measurements on the associated radiative lifetimes.