Transitions between the 4f4f-core-excited states in Ir16+^{16+}, Ir17+^{17+}, and Ir18+^{18+} ions for clock applications

Iridium ions near $4f$-$5s$ level crossings are the leading candidates for a new type of atomic clocks with a high projected accuracy and a very high sensitivity to the temporal variation of the fine structure constant $\alpha$. To identify spectra of these ions in experiment accurate calculations of the spectra and electromagnetic transition probabilities should be performed. Properties of the $4f$-core-excited states in Ir$^{16+}$, Ir$^{17+}$, and Ir$^{18+}$ ions are evaluated using relativistic many-body perturbation theory and Hartree-Fock-Relativistic method (COWAN code). We evaluate excitation energies, wavelengths, oscillator strengths, and transition rates. Our large-scale calculations includes the following set of configurations: $4f^{14-k}5s^{m}5p^{n}$ with $(k+m+n)$ equal to 3, 2, and 1 for the Ir$^{16+}$, Ir$^{17+}$, and Ir$^{18+}$ ions, respectively. The $5s-5p$ transitions are illustrated by the synthetic spectra in the 180 - 200 \AA range. Large contributions of magnetic-dipole transitions to lifetimes of low-lying states in the region below 2.5 Ry are demonstrated.Comment: 10 page

Breit Interaction and Parity Non-conservation in Many-Electron Atoms

We present accurate {\em ab initio} non-perturbative calculations of the Breit correction to the parity non-conserving (PNC) amplitudes of the $6s-7s$ and $6s-5d_{3/2}$ transitions in Cs, $7s-8s$ and $7s-6d_{3/2}$ transitions in Fr, $6s-5d_{3/2}$ transition in Ba$^+$, $7s-6d_{3/2}$ transition in Ra$^+$, and $6p_{1/2} - 6p_{3/2}$ transition in Tl. The results for the $6s-7s$ transition in Cs and $7s-8s$ transition in Fr are in good agreement with other calculations while calculations for other atoms/transitions are presented for the first time. We demonstrate that higher-orders many-body corrections to the Breit interaction are especially important for the $s-d$ PNC amplitudes. We confirm good agreement of the PNC measurements for cesium and thallium with the standard model .Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Excitation energies, hyperfine constants, E1, E2, M1 transition rates, and lifetimes of (6s2)nl states in Tl I and Pb II

Energies of np (n=6-9), ns (n=7-9), nd (n=6-8), and nf (n=5-6) states in Tl I and Pb II are obtained using relativistic many-body perturbation theory. Reduced matrix elements, oscillator strengths, transition rates, and lifetimes are determined for the 72 possible electric-dipole transitions. Electric-quadrupole and magnetic-dipole matrix elements are evaluated to obtain np(3/2) - mp(1/2) (n,m=6,7) transition rates. Hyperfine constants A are evaluated for a number of states in 205Tl. First-, second-, third-, and all-order corrections to the energies and matrix elements and first- and second-order Breit corrections to energies are calculated. In our implementation of the all-order method, single and double excitations of Dirac-Fock wave functions are included to all orders in perturbation theory. These calculations provide a theoretical benchmark for comparison with experiment and theory.Comment: twelve tables, no figure

Atomic Properties of Lu+^+

Singly ionised Lutetium has recently been suggested as a potential clock candidate. Here we report a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of \ce{Lu^+}. Measurements relevant to practical clock operation are made and compared to atomic structure calculations. Calculations of scalar and tensor polarizabilities for clock states over a range of wavelengths are also given. These results will be useful for future work with this clock candidate.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure