Storage-ring measurement of the hyperfine-induced 2s2p 3 P0→2s2 1 S0 transition rate in berylliumlike sulfur

The hyperfine-induced 2s 2p 3 P0→2s2 1 S0 transition rate in Be-like sulfur was measured by monitoring the decay of isotopically pure beams of 32S12+ and 33S12+ ions in a heavy-ion storage ring. Within the 4% experimental uncertainty the experimental value of 0.096(4) s−1 agrees with the most recent theoretical results of [ Cheng et al. Phys. Rev. A 77 052504 (2008)] and [ Andersson et al. Phys. Rev. A 79 032501 (2009)]. Repeated experiments with different magnetic fields in the storage-ring bending magnets demonstrate that artificial quenching of the 2s 2p 3 P0 state by these magnetic fields is negligible.