THEORETICAL-STUDY OF THE NO-B 4-SIGMA- AND O-2-SIGMA-G- RADIATIVE LIFETIMES( B 4)

We have computed the radiative lifetime of the NO b 4SIGMA- state, whi ch is determined by the b 4SIGMA- -a 4PI Ogawa band system. Analogous calculations were carried out for the O2+ b 4SIGMA(g)- -a 4PI(u) first negative band system. Calibration calculations of both the one- and n -particle spaces are used to demonstrate that the theoretical lifetime s are accurate to 10%. The O2+ 4SIGMA(g)- radiative lifetimes are in e xcellent agreement with previous theoretical calculations and with the experimental values of Erman and Larsson. The theoretical NO b 4SIGMA - radiative lifetimes are consistent with our previous theoretical res ults, but significantly longer than the experimental values, suggestin g that some decay mechanism other than the Ogawa system is contributin g to the lifetime.