Lifetime of the A /sup 2//Sigma//sup +/, v' = 0 level of HS measured using the Hanle effect

H/sub 2/S was photodissociated using an ArF excimer laser at 193 nm to form HS photofragments. LIF spectra of HS in the region of 324 nm were obtained using a pressure tuned dye laser with improved resolution of the R/sub 1/ and /sup R/Q/sub 21/ branches in the A /sup 2//Sigma//sup +/left-arrowX /sup 2/Pi/sub 3//sub ///sub 2/ transition. The zero field linewidths and the Zeeman splitting of the /sup R/Q/sub 21/ (1.5) line in a magnetic field were obtained. The latter was used to verify the g values expected for a Hund's case (b) /sup 2//Sigma//sup +/ upper state and Hund's case (a) /sup 2/Pi lower state. Depolarization of fluorescence in a magnetic field using the /sup R/Q/sub 21/ (3.5) line with /sigma/polarized LIF excitation was used to determine an estimated lifetime of 0.15--0.3 ns for the lowest vibrational level of the /sup 2//Sigma//sup +/ state. A lower limit on the lifetime of 0.17 ns was determined from the measured adsorption linewidths. No rotational dependence on the linewidth was observed