Search for 1s2s S-3(1)-1s2p P-3(2) decay in U90+

We present high-resolution crystal-spectrometer measurements that cover the wavelength range 3.0-3.2 Angstrom containing the electric-dipole-allowed 2s(1/2)-2p(3/2) transitions in highly charged uranium ions. Strong features from 2s(1/2)-2p(3/2) transitions in lithiumlike, berylliumlike, and boronlike uranium were observed. In addition, a weak feature with intensity just above the level of background fluctuations was observed at the predicted location of the 1s2s S-3(1)-1s2p P-3(2) transition in heliumlike U90+. The feature was observed in spectra where the intensity of the 2s(1/2)-2p(3/2) transition in lithiumlike uranium, and thus the ionization balance, was optimized; it appeared absent in spectra where the average ionization balance was lower. The measured energy of the feature is 4510.05+/-0.24 eV, which agrees closely with the values predicted for the 1s2s S-3(1)-1s2p P-3(2) transition by recent theories. Detailed spectral modeling calculations indicate the possibility that a weak transition in berylliumlike U88+ is situated within 4 eV of the-location of the heliumlike S-3(1)-P-3(2) transition. This transition connects the level 1s (2)2p(1/2)2p(3/2) (3)p(1) with the 1s (2)2s(1/2)2p(1/2) P-3(0) metastable ground level in berylliumlike uranium. The accuracy with which the energy of the berylliumlike transition can be predicted is insufficient to rule out a blend with the heliumlike S-3(1)-P-3(2) transition.