Radiative lifetimes of 6sns S-3(1) and 6snd D-3(1) excited states of HgI

Natural radiative lifetimes have been measured along the 6sns S-3(1) (n=7-10) and 6snd D-3(1) (n=6-11) Rydberg series of neutral mercury using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy in a laser-produced mercury plasma. The states of Hg I investigated in the present work were populated from the ground state by a stepwise excitation process. Relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations, including intravalence interactions and core-polarization effects, have been performed and the theoretical lifetimes have been compared with the measurements