Natural radiative lifetimes have been determined in the 5snd ' D2 sequences of strontium in the perturbed region around n =15. Stepwise laser excitations and pulse modulation of a cw dye-laser beam were employed. A plot of the measured lifetime values versus the effective quantum number reveals complex configuration interaction.

Transition probabilities have been derived for 20 5s−5p transitions of Pd I from a combination of radiative lifetime measurements for 6 odd-parity levels with time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and of branching fraction determination using a hollow cathode discharge lamp. Additional oscillator strengths for 18 transitions have been determined from measured lifetimes and theoretical branching fractions obtained from configuration interaction calculations with core-polarization effects included. These new results have allowed us to refine the palladium abundance in the solar photosphere: A Pd = 1.66 ± 0.04, in the usual logarithmic scale, a result in close agreement with the meteoritic value.

Radiative lifetimes of ten odd-parity levels of V I belonging to the 3d 3 4s4p and 3d 4 4p configurations and of 11 odd-parity levels of V II belonging to the 3d 3 4p configuration are reported. The lifetimes were measured with use of single-step excitation and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The neutral and singly ionized vanadium atoms were produced in a laser-induced vanadium plasma.

The photo-induced birefringence of three new azo polymer films containing different substitutions was studied. Under a pumping light with the same polarization and intensity, the samples showed different profiles of birefringence as a function of temperature. It was found that the smaller azo molecules possess higher photo-induced birefringence but less stability. These phenomena have been explained in terms of the molecules' thermal motion and structure.