Radiative lifetimes of neutral cerium

Radiative lifetimes, accurate to ±5%, have been measured for 153 levels of neutral cerium using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (TRLIF) on a slow beam of cerium atoms. Of the 153 levels studied, 150 are even parity and 3 are odd parity. The levels range in energy from 16 869 to 28 557 cm-1. This set of Ce I lifetimes is much more extensive than others published to date, and will provide the absolute calibration for a very large set of measured Ce I transition probabilities. Accurate transition probabilities for lines in the visible and ultraviolet are needed both in astrophysics, for the determination of elemental abundances, and by the lighting community, for research and development of metal halide high-intensity discharge lamps.