Impact broadening and shift rates for the 6p2 3PJ′ → 7s 3P J o transitions of lead induced by collisions with argon and helium

The collisional broadening and shift rate coefficients of the 283.39 nm (6p 2 3P0 → 7s 3P 1 ), 364.06 nm (6p 2 3P1 → 7s 3P 1 ), 368.45 nm (6p 2 3P1 → 7s 3P 0 ) and 405.90 nm (6p 2 3P2 → 7s 3P 1 ) Pb lines by He and Ar have been measured by fitting the experimental absorption line shapes to theoretical Voigt profiles. The absorption measurements were performed in a resistively heated, Pb loaded oven with an integrated dc noble gas discharge to produce also Pb atoms in the 6p 2 3P1 and 6p 2 3P2 metastable states. The diffusion of the metastable atoms out of the discharge zone into the neutral noble-gas atmosphere enabled the line-shape and shift measurement of the lines involving the metastable states without the influence of the discharge plasma.