QED calculations of intra-$L$-shell singly excited states in Be-like ions

Abstract

The \textit{ab initio} approach is used to evaluate the excitation energies of the $2s2p \, ^{2S+1}P_J$ states from the ground state as well as the $2s2p \, ^3P_1 \rightarrow 2s2p \, ^3P_0$ and $2s2p \, ^3P_2 \rightarrow 2s2p \, ^3P_1$ transition energies for selected Be-like highly-charged ions over a wide range: from ${\rm Ar}^{14+}$ to ${\rm U}^{88+}$. The issue of a strong level mixing due to the proximity of states with the same symmetry is addressed by applying the QED perturbation theory for quasidegenerate levels. The employed approach combines a rigorous perturbative QED treatment up to the second order with electron-electron correlation contributions of the third and higher orders calculated in the Breit approximation. The higher-order QED effects are estimated using the model-QED-operator approach. The nuclear-recoil and nuclear-polarization effects are taken into account as well. The performed calculations are accompanied with a thorough analysis of uncertainties due to uncalculated effects. The most accurate theoretical predictions for the excitation and transition energies in Be-like ions are obtained, which, in general, are in perfect agreement with the available experimental data.