Precision atomic lifetime measurements using collisionally induced coherence transfer

Collisionally induced coherence transfer is observed for the first time, to our knowledge, between levels with different orbital angular momenta. A new method of precision atomic lifetime measurement is described. While requiring only a single laser, this method permits measurements on states that differ from the ground state by three units of angular momenta (Δl=3). Using this technique we have found the calcium (3d4p)¹F lifetime to be 58.3 ±{} 2.0 nsec.