Lifetime measurements of Stark states of sodium

Abstract Lifetimes of n = 17, m = 0 Stark-manifold states of Na atoms have been measured in the static electric fields ranged from 1250 to 2000 V/cm using delayed electric field ionization (DEFI). The observed lifetimes of the Stark-manifold states are of the same order of magnitude (10 −6 sec). The influences of applied fields and blackbody radiation on the determination of the lifetimes were discussed.