The $E2$ and $M1$ transition rates among the lowest five states (${{[}^4{S}_{3/2}^o]}^{\prime },{{[}^2{D}_{5/2}^o]}^{\prime },{{[}^2{D}_{3/2}^o]}^{\prime },{{[}^2{P}_{3/2}^o]}^{\prime },{{[}^2{P}_{1/2}^o]}^{\prime }$), i.e., the ${{[}^2{D}_{5/2,3/2}^o]}^{\prime }\to {{[}^4{S}_{3/2}^o]}^{\prime }$ and ${{[}^2{P}_{3/2,1/2}^o]}^{\prime }\to {{[}^4{S}_{3/2}^o]}^{\prime }$ transitions, in the $2p^3$ configuration of a nitrogenlike isoelectronic sequence (from $Z=7$ to $Z=79$) are calculated by using a large-scale multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method. The scaling laws of the excitation energies, fine-structure splittings, forbidden transition rates, line strengths, and ratios of line intensities varying with $Z$ are investigated. The underlying physical mechanism leading to the change of the scaling laws from low $Z$ to high $Z$ are discussed. The calculated transition probabilities and scaling laws are expected to be useful for astrophysical and plasma physical applications.

• Received 2 October 2013
• Revised 14 January 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.042514