Lifetimes of the <i>A</i> 2π and <i>B</i> 2Σ States of the CN Radical

Abstract

The lifetimes of the A 2Π(v=10) and B 2Σ(v=0) states of the CN radical have been measured from an analysis of the zero electric field limit linewidth of the level anticrossing spectrum. The measured value of τΣ=39.4± 9.3 nsec was found to be in reasonable agreement with the most recent phase shift measurement. The value of τπ=137± 45 nsec was in serious disagreement with previous direct decay measurements on v≤ 9 vibrational levels, but in essential agreement with previous microwave and intensity measurements on the perturbed v=10 level.