Unexpected transitions induced by spin-dependent, hyperfine, and external magnetic-field interactions

Abstract

Unexpected transitions are induced by weaker interactions not included in the gross structure model of the ion under investigation. We discuss different examples of such decay channels, starting with relativistic spin-induced transitions. These represented an important field of study a few decades ago, and we illustrate how some challenging cases can be treated very accurately with todayʼs computational techniques, while close degeneracy sometimes still prevents ab initio methods from obtaining accurate results. For hyperfine induced transitions we review some recent results and discuss remaining challenges for experiment and theory. Finally, we discuss the newly opened field of accurate calculations for transitions induced by an external magnetic field and point to some examples of where these are accessible for experimental tests.