Dipole moments and transition probabilities of the a3Σ/sub g/+--b 3Σ/sub u/+ system of molecular hydrogen

Multiconfiguration variational calculations are carried out of the electronic wave functions of the a 3Σ/sub g/+ and b 3Σ/sub u/+ states of molecular hydrogen, and the electric dipole transition moment between them is obtained. The dipole moment is used in a calculation of the probabilities of radiative transitions from the discrete vibrational levels of the a 3Σ/sub g/+ state to the vibrational continuum of the repulsive b 3Σ/sub u/+ state as functions of the wavelength of the emitted photons, and a comparison is made with measurements of the emission spectra of the v' = 0 levels of H2 and of D2. The total transition probabilities and radiative lifetimes of levels v' = 0--20 are presented