Determination of the relaxation constants of levels by the method of resonant interaction of two traveling waves with a two-level system

A simple and accurate experimental method was developed for the determination of the relaxation constants of energy levels. The method was based on an investigation of the depth of nonlinear resonances in the gain profile resulting from the interaction between two traveling waves with a two-level system. The radiative widths and relaxation constants were obtained in the circular and linear polarization cases for the 3s₂, 3p₂, and 3p₄ levels of Ne, and the probability of a transition from the 3s₂ level to the ground state was determined.