EFFECT OF INTERCHANNEL COUPLING ON THE PARTIAL AND TOTAL AUTOIONIZATION WIDTHS - APPLICATION TO THE 1S3S3P P-4(0) AND 1S3P P-4 STATES FOR Z=2-5, 10

We have computed the partial and total widths with interchannel coupli ng for the 1s3s3p P-4(0) and 1s3p2 4P states for Z = 2-5 and 10, by so lving the corresponding complex matrix equations constructed from squa re-integrable N-electron functions with numerical and analytic real an d complex orbitals. The correlated wave functions are computed by the state-specific method. Oscillator strengths for one- and two-electron transitions from the metastable 1s2s2p P-4(0) state suggest that the s tates are reachable in He- and in Li directly (1s3p2 4P), or via the 1 s2p2 4P state (1s3s3p P-4(0)). The effect of interchannel coupling on the partial widths in the case of the P-4(0) state is considerable. On the contrary, interchannel coupling has no significant effect on the total widths. This computational result is discussed formally.