Transition probabilities in complex ions: The case of americium

We report on the first calculations of transition probabilities in neutral americium, a heavy radioactive element belonging to the actinide group. A relativistic Hartree-Fock approach, including core-polarization effects, has been used for obtaining branching fractions and radiative lifetimes for some low-lying levels belonging to the 7s7p configuration. A comparison with the few experimental results available shows reasonable agreement between theory and experiment.