CALCULATION OF RADIAL MATRIX-ELEMENTS AND RADIATIVE LIFETIMES FOR HIGHLY EXCITED-STATES OF ALKALI ATOMS USING THE COULOMB APPROXIMATION

Radial matrix elements have been computed involving highly excited states of alkali atoms. An entirely analytical Coulomb method has been used. Particular attention has been paid in the choice of the cut criterion. The extensive data are available from the author upon request and can be used to compute, for example, oscillator strengths, radiative lifetimes, branching ratios and polarizabilities of alkali Rydberg states. In order to test the results, radiative lifetimes have been derived for highly excited (10 less than equivalent to n less than equivalent to 28), S, P, D and F states of alkali atoms. The computed lifetimes are reported and are observed to be in good agreement with the available experimental data.