THEORETICAL LIFETIMES OF THE AL 2S, 2P, 2D, AND 2F STATES

The natural lifetimes of the aluminum 3s2nl, n=3-12, 1=0-3, have been calculated using wave functions that were obtained by direct numerical integration of the Schrodinger equation with a central potential to describe the ionic core and experimental term energies as input. The strong perturbation of the 3s2nd 2D series by the yet to be experimentally identified 3s3p2 2D perturber has been explicitly treated semiempirically by using experimental mixing coefficients. Inclusion of at least this perturbation is essential for good agreement with experiment. The effects of blackbody radiation are also explicitly included and have a dramatic effect on the lifetimes of the np states. Core-polarization effects are also included in the transition matrix elements.