Relativistic many-body calculation of energies, oscillator strengths, transition rates, and lifetimes of Sc III ion

Abstract

A systematic study of Sc iii atomic properties is carried out using a high-precision relativistic all-order method where all single, double, and partial-triple excitations of the Dirac-Fock wave functions are included to all orders of perturbation theory. Reduced matrix elements, oscillator strengths, transition rates, and lifetimes are determined for the $ns$, $n{p}_{j}$, $n{d}_{j}$, $n{f}_{j}$, and $n{g}_{j}$ levels with $n\ensuremath{\leqslant}7$. Recommended values and estimates of their uncertainties are provided for a large number of electric-dipole transitions. Electric-quadrupole and magnetic-dipole matrix elements are evaluated to determine lifetimes of the $3{d}_{5/2}$ and $4s$ metastable levels. These calculations provide recommended values critically evaluated for their accuracy for a number of Sc iii atomic properties for use in theoretical modeling as well as planning and analysis of various experiments. We hope that the present study will stimulate further exploration of Sc iii for various applications owing to its interesting structure of different low-lying metastable levels.