Atomic and molecular fluorescence with long radioactive decay times from laser excited Na2

Na2 is excited in the presence of noble gases (20-700 Torr). The Na2 fluorescence decay shows two lifetimes: a short component which corresponds to the well known lifetime of Na2 in the B1πsub(u) state (1), and a long component with a lifetime of about 0,1 μs which depends strongly on the noble gas density (2). The same long lived radiative decay is also seen via the Na resonance fluorescence Na(32S), Na(32P). (orig.)