Multiconfiguration Close-Coupling Calculations of the Autoionizing States of Atomic Nitrogen

We report the first theoretical predictions, beyond the simple two- and three-electron systems studied to date, of the positions and widths of autoionizing states involving excited configurations of atomic systems. We have carried out multiconfiguration close-coupling calculations of the ${}_{}{}^2{}_{}{}^{}S_{}^e{}_{}{}^{}$, ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}S_{}^0{}_{}{}^{}$, and ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}P_{}^e{}_{}{}^{}$ autoionizing states in atomic nitrogen, and found substantial agreement with photoabsorption measurements of a new Rydberg series in the ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}P_{}^e{}_{}{}^{}$ state. It should be possible to confirm our predictions of series, such as in the ${}_{}{}^2{}_{}{}^{}S_{}^e{}_{}{}^{}$ and ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}S_{}^0{}_{}{}^{}$ states, in ion-bombardment experiments.