We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived $5D_{5/2}$ level in Ba. The branching fraction for decay into the $6S_{1/2}$ ground state was found to be $0.846(25)_{mathrm{stat}}(4)_{mathrm{sys}}$. We also report an
improved measurement of the $5D_{5/2}$ lifetime, $tau_{5D_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)$~s. Together these measurements provide the first experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the $5D_{5/2}$ level. The low ($<7 times 10^{-12}$~Torr) pressure in the ion trap in which these measurements were made simplified data acquisition and analysis. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical predictions of the transition rates shows good agreement.
We report an improved measurement of the Lande g factor of the 5D5/2 state of singly ionized barium. Measurements were performed on single Doppler-cooled 138Ba+ ions in linear Paul traps using two similar, independent apparatuses. Transitions between
Zeeman sublevels of the 6S1/2 and 5D5/2 states were driven with two independent, stabilized radio-frequency synthesizers using a dedicated electrode within each ion trap chamber. State detection within each Zeeman manifold was achieved with a frequency-stabilized fiber laser operating at 1.76 microns. By calculating the ratio of the two Zeeman splittings, and using the measured Lande g factor of the 6S1/2 state, we find a value of 1.200371(4stat)(6sys) for g of 5D5/2.
