Competition between radiative and non-radiative decay processes in triply-excited 3131'nl" and doubly-excited 2lnl' states in nitrogen ions

Results are presented for radiative and non-radiative decay rates for 3l3l'nl' states in N4+ and 2lnl' states in N5+ in a single configuration as well as in a CI approximation. It is found that while radiative stabilization is negligible for the triply-excited states, it is important for the doubly-excited states with n)6. These results are used to interpret multiple charge-exchange experiments in nitrogen by Benoit-Cattin et al. (1988). The reasons for the difference between the doubly- and triply-excited states are discussed.