Radiative parameters of Nb i excited states

Radiative lifetimes of 17 excited levels of Nb i, in the energy range 27 400-47 700 cm-1 (5p y 6D degrees(9/2), 5p x 6D degrees(7/2), 5p w 4G degrees(7/2,9/2,11/2), 5s5p v 4D degrees(1/2,3/2,5/2,7/2), 5s6p n 4D degrees(1/2,3/2,5/2,7/2), 5s6p o 4F degrees(3/2,5/2,7/2,9/2)), have been measured. For 15 of these levels, the lifetimes are obtained for the first time. The lifetimes were measured using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique and the experiments are complemented by a theoretical investigation using a relativistic Hartree-Fock method including core polarization. By combining the experimental lifetimes and the calculated branching fractions, we obtain transition probabilities for the individual de-excitation channels from the investigated levels.