The Detection of Hg(63P1 and 63P0) Atoms by an Atomic Absorption Method and Their Quenching Cross Sections

The absorption intensities of the 435.8- and 404.7-nm lines by Hg(63P1 and 63P0) atoms were calculated taking into account the hyperfine structure under the assumption of a Doppler spectral line shape. The calculated values were tested by comparison with experimental absorption of the line in an Ar+N2+Hg mixture illuminated by 253.7-nm radiation. This procedure led to the conclusion that the ratio of the spectral half-width of the 404.7-nm line from a low-pressure Hg lamp to that of the Hg(63P0) absorption line should be 2.25±0.25 instead of the value of 5 determined in the previous experiment. On the basis of this value, the quenching cross sections of the excited Hg atoms reported in the previous paper were revised. The corrections are generally less than 20%, so that it is not necessary to change the previous conclusions.