Oscillator strengths for neutral sodium and the interstellar sodium abundance in zeta Ophiuchi.

Using the high-frequency deflection technique, we have measured radiative lifetimes for the 4p and Sp upper states in Na i, along with relative populations of a number of ns and nd states. These data have been used to obtain f-values for the corresponding resonance transitions in Na i, which proved to be in reasonable agreement with previous oscillator strengths. From the theoretical curve of growth for pure Doppler broadening, we give revised line ratios for D1j3303, and compare with observations of Na I in Oph. Subject headings: abundances - interstellar matter - stars, individual - transition probabilities