Sophisticated configuration interaction wave functions have been used
to obtain transition probabilities for transitions between the fine st
ructure levels of the thirty-two lowest lying 2s(2)2p(2), 2s2p(3), 2s(
2)2p(3)s, 2s(2)2p3p, 2s(2)2p3d, 2s(2)2p4s, 2s(2)2p4p states together w
ith the 2s2p(2)3s state of singly ionised nitrogen. The calculations w
ere performed using the CIV3 code and small empirical adjustments were
introduced to the diagonal Hamiltonian matrix elements in order to ac
hieve accurate energy splittings between the levels and thereby the CI
mixing coefficients. The present results are believed to be the most
accurate available. Significant differences are found when the present
lifetimes of the more highly excited states are compared with recent
experimental data.