Classical calculation of the lifetimes and branching ratios for radiative decays of hydrogenic atoms

The correspondence principle for atomic radiation is extended to all hydrogenic states n and l>0. Lifetimes and branching ratios are obtained using analytic calculations of the classical radiated spectrum for the elliptical orbit corresponding to a particular quantum state. The polarization of the radiation is used to separate out the angular momentum decreasing and increasing transitions. The lifetimes show excellent agreement with quantum mechanics for all principal quantum numbers n and lgreater than or equal to1 (e.g., <100 parts per million for lgreater than or equal to30, <0.1% for lgreater than or equal to9, <1% for lgreater than or equal to3). The calculated branching ratios are in reasonable agreement with quantum results for all n('), l('), n, and lgreater than or equal to1.