Lifetimes of the metastable X{sup 3}{Sigma}{sup {minus}} and {alpha}{sup 1}{delta} states of the HeO{sup 2+} ion

The possibility of the existence of the HeO{sup 2+}, ion is analyzed theoretically. Based on quantum-chemical and quantum-mechanical calculations performed, spectroscopic constants and lifetimes of the vibrational levels of the two lower X{sup 3}{Sigma}{sup -} and a{sup 1}{Delta} electronic states of the ion are determined. The zero level of the X{sup 3}{Sigma}{sup -} state and the first vibrational level of this state are shown to have lifetimes of 2 x 10{sup -7} and 7 x 10{sup -10}s, respectively. Similar levels of the a{sup 1}{Delta} state are predicted to have lifetimes of 1.7 and 2 x 10{sup -3}s, respectively, which suggests the possibility of an experimental investigation of the HeO{sup 2+} ion, at best, only in the excited and not in the ground state as was earlier anticipated. 28 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.