Lifetimes of excited states in Y I, Y II, and Zr I by beam-foil and beam-sputtering excitation

Abstract

Radiative lifetimes have been determined by beam-foil and beam-sputtering excitation for some excited states in Y I, Y II, and Zr I to test the reliability of the transition probabilities used so far for solar abundance determinations of yttrium and zirconium. The yttrium abundance in the sun should be increased by a factor of about 2 to log A(Y) = 2.35 + or - 0.20 by using the new transition probabilities, whereas the zirconium abundance should remain unchanged.