Lifetime measurements in $$^{178}$$
178
Pt with excited states de-exciting through $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray transitions and internal electron conversions have been performed. Ionic charges were selected by the in-flight mass separator MARA and measured at the focal plane in coincidence with the $$4_1^+\rightarrow 2_1^+$$
4
1
+
→
2
1
+
$$257\,$$
257
keV $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray transition detected using the JUROGAM 3 spectrometer. The resulting charge-state distributions were analysed using the differential decay curve method (DDCM) framework to obtain a lifetime value of 430(20) ps for the $$2_1^+$$
2
1
+
state. This work builds on a method that combines the charge plunger technique with the DDCM analysis. As an alternative analysis, ions were selected in coincidence with the $$^{178}$$
178
Pt alpha decay ($$E_{\mathrm {alpha}} = 5.458(5)$$
E
alpha
=
5.458
(
5
)
MeV) at the focal plane. Lifetime information was obtained by fitting a two-state Bateman equation to the decay curve with the lifetime of individual states defined by a single quadrupole moment. This yielded a lifetime value of 430(50) ps for the $$2_1^+$$
2
1
+
state, and 54(6) ps for the $$4_1^+$$
4
1
+
state. An analysis method based around the Bateman equation will become especially important when using the charge plunger method for the cases where utilising coincidences between prompt $$\gamma $$
γ
rays and recoils is not feasible.