УДК 539.182; 539.184.52 NATURAL LIFETIMES OF EXCITED STATES IN THE GROUP II IONS I. L. Glukhov, E. A. Nikitina and V. D. Ovsiannikov Voronezh State University Поступила в редакцию 18.07.2013 г. <...> Abstract: a good precision of the Fues’ model potential is demonstrated in calculating rates Anl of spontaneous radiation decays determining lifetimes τnl = 1/Anl of excited nS, nP, nD and nF states in singly ionized atoms of the group II elements. <...> Numerical results for lifetimes and quantum defects of excited states in the group IIa (alkaline-earth-metal) ions Be+, Mg+, Ca+, Sr+, Ba+ and in the group IIb ions Zn+, Cd+, Hg+ are presented in comparison with data available from the literature. <...> The tables of this article demonstrate significant discrepancies between the data of different papers available in the literature and so clarify reliability of the most cited previously published works. <...> Agreement of calculated lifetimes with the most reliable data of current literature demonstrates applicability of the model potential method and availability of the data for lifetimes of arbitrary excited states in ions of groups IIa and IIb elements. <...> INTRODUCTION Intense researches on the possibilities of the use of alkaline-earth-metal atoms and ions in designing new time-frequency standards [1] – [3] and quantum information processors [4] – [9] stimulate detailed studies of optical properties of these particles in their ground and excited states [10], [11]. <...> Together with position on the energy scale, the lifetime of an excited state is one of the most important optical characteristics. <...> Despite a great number of works on experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, the data of the literature on the lifetimes of excited Glukhov I. L., Nikitina E. A. and Ovsiannikov V. D., 2013 c ВЕСТНИК ВГУ. <...> However, the most reliable recommended data is already tabulated in widely renowned and internationally approved data bases, such as [16], [17]. <...> But these data are confined to a small number of lowest energy levels and cannot give information on the natural widths of highly excited Rydberg states, now considered as rather promising objects both for quantum computations and for optical timefrequency standards [18] – [20]. <...> The high-precision methods taking into account all many-body and relativistic effects on the level widths <...>