Natural widths in open-shell atoms: The K absorption spectrum of atomic oxygen

Total-ion-yield measurements and Hartree-Fock calculations are presented for the 1s→np, n=2 to 5 photoexcitations in atomic oxygen. Energies and relative intensities of the [1s]2s²2p⁴(⁴P)np and [1s]2s²2p⁴(²P)np series members are determined, and the apparent linewidths are measured. It is shown that natural widths in an open-shell atom can be deduced from an absorption spectrum only with the aid of theoretical input. The linewidth for the six individual components contained in the 1s→2p transition is determined to be 140(9) meV.