Journal of Atomic and Molecular Physics

Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 798398, 5 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/798398

Research Article

Forbidden Transitions in the Ground State Configuration of Doubly Ionized Argon

Leyla Özdemir, Selda Kabakçı, and İlker Armağan

Department of Physics, Sakarya University, 54187 Sakarya, Turkey

Received 24 October 2013; Revised 27 December 2013; Accepted 27 December 2013; Published 9 February 2014

Academic Editor: Predrag S. Krstic

Copyright © 2014 Leyla Özdemir et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

We have calculated forbidden transitions (M1 and E2) between fine structure levels in the ground state configuration 3s²3p⁴ of doubly ionized argon (Ar III) using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approach within the framework of the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian. The data for the analysis of forbidden lines in the spectrum is important for the study of the plasma in astrophysical objects and fusion devices. The results obtained from this work have been compared with other results available in the literature.

1. Introduction

Atomic radiative transition is one of the fundamental processes in plasmas. The numerical simulation of atomic kinetics in laboratory as well as astrophysical plasma requires accurate radiative transition rates [1]. Information about the term values and transition probabilities of highly stripped ions is required in astrophysics and plasma diagnostics. In plasma research, transitions in such ions can be used to determine temperature and density distributions. Forbidden transitions within the ground state configuration are particularly useful since their relatively long wavelengths make them convenient for spectroscopic studies [2]. Although the atomic kinetics depend on, in particular, optical allowed transitions (E1), the weak forbidden transitions (magnetic dipole, M1, and electric quadrupole, E2) have been linked to dominant features in the optical spectra of planetary nebulae and the aurora [3, 4]. Since the parity of upper and lower levels within the ground state configuration is the same, the electric dipole (E1) transitions are forbidden. The lowest-order metastable levels radiatively decay correspond to M1 and E2 transitions [5]. M1 and E2 transition rates are of several orders of magnitude smaller than those for E1 transitions with a similar energy-level separation.

Argon is one of the most abundant rare gases in the universe (its abundance is being times smaller than that of hydrogen). Argon ion lines are observed in solar and astrophysical plasmas as well as in the laboratory [6]. The argon spectral lines are important in determining chemical abundances of elements and for estimation of the radiative transfer through stellar plasmas [7]. Argon plasma sources are required in various fields [8–11]. For this reason, the data on the transition parameters in multiply ionized argon ions is important for argon plasma modeling and laser physics [12, 13].

Some of the data for the energy levels and transition parameters on allowed and forbidden lines in Ar III can be found in NIST website [14]. M1 and E2 transition parameters for Ar III in NIST were compiled from the values reported by Czyak and Krueger [15], Naqvi [16], Bowen [17, 18], Kelly and Lacy [19], and Feuchtgruber et al. [20]. Saloman and Kim calculated magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole transition rates for S-like ions between ground state terms using multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock wave functions [2]. Calamai and Johnson measured the natural lifetimes of the ns²np⁴ (¹S₀) metastable states for some rare gases (Ar²⁺, Kr²⁺, and Xe²⁺) using an ion trapping technique [21]. Biémont and Hansen calculated energy levels and radiative transition probabilities in the ground configurations of the sulfur and selenium isoelectronic sequences up to molybdenum and silver, respectively, using HFR self-consistent method [22]. Prior observed M1 and E2 lines from trapped metastable Ar III and Cu II ions [23]. Mendoza and Zeippen calculated radiative transition probabilities for the forbidden lines in the ground configuration of all the members of the sulfur isoelectronic sequence [24]. Fine structure splitting in Ar III was calculated using the R-matrix method by Stancalie et al. [6]. Träbert discussed some examples of measurements and calculations of the radiative lifetime of the np⁴¹S₀ level in Ne²⁺, Ar²⁺, Kr²⁺, and Xe²⁺ ions [25]. Pasternack reported the transition probabilities of forbidden lines for atoms in the p², p³, p⁴, d², and d³ configurations [26, 27]. Burger et al. presented 38 Ar III and 14 Ar IV A values obtained on the basis of the relative line intensity ratio method in the wavelength interval between 240 nm and 308 nm [7]. The weighted oscillator strengths (gf) and the lifetimes for Ar III were presented using a multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock relativistic (HFR) approach by Luna et al. [28]. Nandi et al. presented a comprehensive analysis of beam-foil and beam-gas excited spectrum of argon observed in small wavelength region, 2965–3090 Å, using Ar⁺ and Ar²⁺ ions in the energy range 200–650 keV [29]. Ultraviolet and visible spectra of the symbiotic nova RR Telescopii were used to derive reference wavelengths for many forbidden and intercombination transitions of ions +1 to +6 of elements C, N, O, Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar, K, and Ca by Young et al. [30]. The transition probabilities of spontaneous emission of eight transitions in Ar III and seventeen transitions in Ar IV spectrum were obtained using the relative line intensity ratios method by Djeniže and Bukvić [31]. The radiative lifetime of the 3s²3p⁴   level in Ar²⁺ ions was measured via time resolved observation of the magnetic dipole (M1) transition to the ns²np⁴   level, on ions circulating in a heavy-ion storage ring by Träbert and Gwinner [5]. Fischer et al. investigated the fine structure levels of 3s²3p³3d ³D for Ar III using nonorthogonal spline CI, multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF), and multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) methods [32]. Theoretical energy levels and transition probabilities were presented for 47 low-lying levels of sulfur-like ions for all using the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method by Chou et al. [33]. Using a compilation of experimental energy levels, Verner et al. derived accurate wavelengths for 5599 lines of 1828 ground-term multiplets gf-values calculated in the Opacity Project and they recalculated the Opacity Project multiplet gf-values to oscillator strengths and transition probabilities of individual lines [34]. The energy levels and observed spectral lines of ionized argon atoms in all stages of ionization were presented by Saloman [35]. Johnson and Kingston calculated collision strengths for electron excitation of the 3s²3p⁴ levels of Ar III using the R-matrix method [36]. Munoz Burgos et al. calculated electron-impact excitation of Ar²⁺ including excitation up to the 5s subshell using R-matrix method [37].

The aim of this work is to investigate the forbidden transitions (M1 and E2) between energy levels within the ground state configuration of doubly ionized argon (Ar III) using multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approach within the framework of Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian [38]. We have obtained the M1 and E2 transition parameters such as transition energies, line strengths, and transition probabilities (or rates) using the MCHF atomic structure code [39]. Although Ar is not a heavy element, the relativistic contributions to the wave functions and energies of levels must be involved. Also an accurate atomic structure via large configuration interaction (CI) basis is required. Therefore, our calculations include the relativistic contributions and correlation effects. For considering the correlation effects in this work, the configurations of 3s²3p⁴, 3p⁶, 3s²3p³4p, 3p⁵4p, 3s3p⁴3d, 3s²3p²3d², and 3p⁴3d² have been considered.

2. Calculation Method

Radiative properties of atoms are described with an electromagnetic transition between two states which is characterized by the angular momentum and parity of the corresponding photon. They are very useful in the fields of quantum electronic, atomic physics and laser spectroscopy, plasma physics, and astrophysics. Hence, the reliability of the values of these parameters is mainly based on the performance of the calculation methods used. A detail of theoretical background can be found in the literature [38, 39]. We have here presented some formulas. Briefly, if the emitted or observed photon has angular momentum and parity , the transition is an electric multipole transition (Ek), while the transition from absorbed photon with parity is magnetic multipole transition (Mk).

The transition probability for the emission from the upper level to the lower level is given by

where is line strength,

, and is transition operator. The transition rates (or probabilities) for forbidden transitions depend on the third (in M1 transition) or fifth (in E2 transition) power of transition energy.

3. Results and Discussion

In this work, the transition energies, line strengths, and transition probabilities (or rates) for forbidden transitions (magnetic dipole, M1, and electric quadrupole, E2) between the levels in the ground state configuration for doubly ionized argon (Ar III) have been calculated using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock atomic structure code [39] based on the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approach within the Breit-Pauli relativistic corrections [38]. In the calculations, the configurations of 3s²3p⁴, 3p⁶, 3s²3p³4p, 3p⁵4p, 3s3p⁴3d, 3s²3p²3d², and 3p⁴3d² are included due to considering correlation effects. Table 1 displays the results including transition energies, line strengths, and transition probabilities (or rates) for M1 and E2 transitions in the ground state configuration [Ne]3s²3p⁴. In table, we have omitted the core and have only given the levels excited of 3s²3p⁴.

Table 1: Transition energies, (cm⁻¹), line strengths, (a.u.), and transition probabilities, (s⁻¹), for forbidden transitions (M1 and E2) of the ground state 3s²3p⁴ configuration for Ar III. In table, denotes .

Transitions

This work
Other works
This work
Other works
This work
Other works

M1 transitions

3P₁-¹S₀
33734.36
32153.53a 

32135d 

32155e 

30688g 

30122.89h
3.36 (−3)
4.48 (−3)a
3.48
4.02a 

3.972d 

3.91f

3P₂-¹D₂
—
14010.0a 

13972d 

14010e 

17305.26g 

16328.91h
—
2.16 (−3)a
—
3.21 (−2)a 

4.5 (−1)b 

3.2 (−1)c 

3.23 (−1)d 

3.13 (−1)f

3P₁-¹D₂
14914.19
12897.83a 

12865d 

12898e 

17647.36g 

15275.43h
4.70 (−3)
7.2 (−3)a
8.41 (−2)
8.3 (−2)a 

12 (−2)b 

8.5 (−2)c 

8.43 (−2)d 

8.22 (−2)f

3P₂-³P₁
1008.28
1112.17a 

1107d 

1112e 

1131.74g 

1053.41h
2.50
2.50a
2.30 (−2)
3.1 (−2)a 

3.1 (−2)c 

3.054 (−2)d 

3.08 (−2)f

3P₁-³P₀
428.35
458.06a 

463d 

458e 

468.96g 

449.92h
2.00
2.00a
4.23 (−3)
5.19 (−3)a 

5.2 (−3)c 

5.354 (−3)d 

5.17 (−3)f

E2 transitions

3P₂-¹S₀
34742.64
33265.7a 

33242d 

33267e 

31819.69g 

31176.37h
4.46 (−3)
9.4 (−3)a
2.53 (−2)
4.3 (−2)a 

3.493 (−2)d 

4.17 (−2)f

1D₂-¹S₀
18820.16
19255.7a 

19271d 

19257e 

14514.43g 

14847.46h
0.87 (1)
1.05 (1)a
2.30
3.10a 

2.693d 

2.59f

3P₂-¹D₂
—
14010.0a 

13972d 

14010e 

16328.91h
—
1.2 (−1)a
—
1.4 (−3)a 

2.9(−3)c 

1.362 (−3)d 

1.14 (−3)f

3P₁-¹D₂
14914.19
12897.83a 

12865d 

12898e 

15704.55g 

15275.43h
1.08 (−2)
1.6 (−2)a
1.78 (−4)
1.3 (−4)a 

2.7 (−4)c 

1.349 (−4)d 

1.14 (−4)f 

3P₀-¹D₂
14485.85
12439.77a 

12402d 

12440e 

14825.51h
3.17 (−3)
4.3 (−3)a
4.52 (−5)
2.9 (−5)a 

7.0 (−5)b 

5.8 (−5)c 

2.038 (−5)d 

2.21 (−5)f 

3P₂-³P₀
1436.63
1570.23a 

1570d 

1570e 

1600.70g 

1503.41h
2.46
2.54a
1.69 (−6)
2.72 (−6)a 

5.6 (−5)c 

2.784 (−6)d 

2.37 (−6)f

3P₂-³P₁
1008.28
1112.17a 

1107d 

1112e 

1131.74g 

1053.48h
5.50
5.7a
2.14 (−7)
3.6 (−7)a 

7.4 (−7)c 

3.617 (−7)d 

3.13 (−7)f

Ref. [14], bRef. [27], cRef. [26], dRef. [22], eRef. [40], fRef. [24], gRef. [6], and hRef. [37].

The results obtained from this work are generally in agreement with other works. In M1 transitions, the transition energies for ³P₁-¹D₂, ³P₂-³P₁, and ³P₁-³P₀ are in agreement with the values reported in [37]. ³P₁-¹S₀ transition energy is in agreement with [14, 22, 40]. We have compared our line strength values with those in NIST [14]. Only the line strength for ³P₁-¹D₂ transition is somewhat poor. There is also good agreement in transition probabilities. In E2 transitions, the transition energies for ³P₂-¹S₀, ¹D₂-¹S₀, ³P₁-¹D₂, ³P₀-¹D₂, ³P₂-³P₀, and ³P₂-³P₁ are in good agreement with [6, 14, 22, 37]. The line strengths are also in agreement with the values of NIST. Moreover, the transition probabilities for this transition type are in agreement with other works. It is noted that the values reported by Pasternack within the other works are somewhat poor. It is seen in first column that there is no values for M1 transition of ³P₂-¹D₂ and E2 transition of ³P₂-¹D₂. We have not obtained these transitions in this work due to the forbiddenness of transitions in this computer code.

In conclusion, the aim of this work is to investigate the transitions between excited levels of ground state configuration in doubly ionized argon (Ar III) using the approach within the framework of the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian. Such excited states, known as metastable states, perform weak spectral lines, and they decay via magnetic dipole (M1) and electric quadrupole (E2) transitions. The values for transition energies, line strengths, and transition probabilities are fundamental quantities for many scientific applications. Especially, forbidden transitions such as M1 and E2 are of great interest for plasma diagnostics and modeling. Therefore, we hope that our results on M1 and E2 transitions in Ar III will provide the supports to further researches for this ion.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the anonymous reviewers for stimulating comments and valuable suggestions, which resulted in improvements to this paper.

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