Relativistic effects in transitions of highly ionized heavy atoms

Wavelenghts, oscillator strengths, and lifetimes of KL shell heavy ions such as Fe²⁰⁺, Br³⁰⁺, etc. are predicted, including both relativistic and correlation effects. In such ions the distinction between “normal” electric dipole (El) and spin—orbit allowed electric dipole transitions (SOAEl) disappears and the Z-dependence of oscillator strengths is very different from the predictions of non-relativistic orbital theories. The feasibility of observing these ions in heavy ion accelerators is indicated. The results have implications for relativistic many-electron theory, ESCA, X-ray spectra, and molecular total energies.