The present work tests the suitability of the narrow transitions $7s \
^2S_{1/2} \to 6d ^2D_{3/2}and7s ^2S_{1/2} \to 6d ^2D_{5/2}inRa^+foropticalfrequencystandardstudies.Ourcalculationsofthelifetimesofthemetastable6dstatesusingtherelativisticcoupled−clustertheorysuggestthattheyaresufficientlylongforRa^+$ to be considered as a potential
candidate for an atomic clock. This is further corroborated by our studies of
the hyperfine interactions, dipole and quadrupole polarizabilities and
quadrupole moments of the appropriate states of this system.Comment: Latex files, 5 pages, 1 figur