On the use of the Cowan's code for atomic structure calculations in singlyionized lanthanides

From a detailed comparison of Relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations with r ecent laser lifetime measurements in Tm II, it is shown that Cowan's code, which has been widely used in the past for atomic structure calculations in light elements, is adequate also for providing accurate radiative data in heavy ions and particularly in the astrophysically important singly ionized lanthanides provided configuration interaction and core-polarization effec ts are consistently taken into account in the adopted physical model. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.