FAILURE OF MULTICONFIGURATION DIRAC-FOCK WAVE-FUNCTIONS IN THE NONRELATIVISTIC LIMIT

Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) wave functions for a specific J q uantum number may not reduce to the appropriate nonrelativistic limit for the L and S quantum numbers. Transition probabilities calculated f rom such MCDF wave functions for spin-forbidden transitions are unreli able. Remedies for this problem are discussed, including the advantage s of using nonorthogonal radial orbitals. It is also shown that transi tion probabilities for weak transitions are sensitive to the way the B reit interaction is introduced.