Transition Probabilities in the Spectra of Ne i, Ar i, and Kr i*

Abstract

Theoretical transition probabilities and oscillator strengths are given for a number of infrared-transition arrays in Ne i and Ar i, and for the visible 5s–5p array in Kr i. About 100 Ne i gas-laser lines, and about 10 from Ar i, are included. Our calculations are based on the intermediate-coupling aproximation. Configurations were chosen for line-strength calculations on the basis of goodness of fit of observed energies and Lande g values to those calculated in intermediate coupling; of the many transition arrays possible we chose only the strongest arising from each configuration, as being least susceptible to the effects of configuration interaction. On the basis of comparisons with experimental results for other s–p transition arrays in these gases we estimate that the relative strengths of the strongest half of the lines in each array are correct to about 35%. The results for the p–d arrays are probably as good. The Coulomb approximation was used to obtain absolute line strengths; we estimate that the values of σ2 so obtained are correct to about 25%. The transition arrays treated were: Ne i 4s–3p, 4s–4p, 5s–4p, 5s–5p, 6s–5p, 6s–6p, 7s–6p, 7s–7p, 3p–3d, 4p–3d, 4p–4d, 5p–4d, 5p–5d, 6p–5d, 6p–6d, 7p–6d; Ar i 5s–4p, 5s–5p, 6s–5p, 6s–6p, 7s–6p; Kr i 5s–5p.