Probabilities of the 2p53p-2p53s transitions in Ne I

Relative intensities of 24 lines belonging to the Ne I 3p-3s transition array have been measured using for the first time the technique of selective excitation of fast beams by laser radiation. This technique has been developed for precision lifetime measurements and it is used to measure the mean lives of eight fine-structure levels of the 2p53p configuration. These lifetime results are employed as an absolute scale for the relative intensity measurements. The absolute transition probabilities obtained demonstrate the applicability of the method for line intensity measurements. Also, their accuracy which still may be improved constitutes an improvement of the accuracy of the data available so far. An indication of configuration interaction is obtained as the different 3p-3s transitions exhibit variations of about 8.5% in the radial part of the transition probability. (orig.)