Lifetime measurements and calculations in La I

Radiative lifetime measurements have been performed, with a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique, for 20 odd-parity levels of La I belonging to the configurations $5d^{2}6p$, 5d6s6p and 4f5d6s. The new results are compared with the few experimental data available in the literature and with theoretical calculations including configuration interaction effects. The agreement theory–experiment is generally satisfying but discrepancies are observed for some levels emphasizing the difficulty to get a reliable theoretical model in such a heavy and complex neutral element