We study transitions between ground and low-energy excited states of heavy ions corresponding to $s-d$ single-electron transitions or $s^2-d^2$ double-electron transitions. The large nuclear charge $Z$ and significant change in angular momentum of electron orbitals make these transitions highly sensitive to a potential variation in the fine-structure constant $\alpha$. The transitions may be considered as candidates for laboratory searches for space-time variation of $\alpha$.

• Received 22 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.84.054501