Regularities in Atomic Oscillator Strengths

Abstract

Many regularities and systematic trends among atomic oscillator strengths have been studied using the extensive material which has recently become available for the lighter elements. The quantum-mechanical background for the existence of these regularities is discussed, and in particular the relationship between oscillator strength and nuclear charge as predicted from conventional perturbation theory is reviewed in detail. A number of characteristic numerical examples are then presented. The regularities are of great practical importance, since they may be exploited to obtain additional oscillator strengths by simple interpolation techniques as well as to evaluate the reliability of existing data by the degree of fit into established systematic trends.