Transition probabilities for some spectral lines of singly ionised nitrogen

Abstract

Sophisticated configuration interaction wave functions have been used to obtain transition probabilities for transitions between the fine structure levels of the thirty-two lowest lying 2s22p2, 2s2p3, 2s22p3s, 2s22p3p, 2s22p3d, 2s22p4s, 2s22p4p states together with the 2s2p23s state of singly ionised nitrogen. The calculations were performed using the CIV3 code and small empirical adjustments were introduced to the diagonal Hamiltonian matrix elements in order to achieve accurate energy splittings between the levels and thereby the CI mixing coefficients. The present results are believed to be the most accurate available. Significant differences are found when the present lifetimes of the more highly excited states are compared with recent experimental data.