The first relativistic self-consistent-field calculation of two-photon transition rates in atomic inner shells is described. Results agree very well with recent measurements of Xe $\mathrm{ns}\to 1s$ and $\mathrm{nd}\to 1s$ ($n=2,3,4\mathrm{}$) transitions, except for $2s\to 1s$ where an unexplained discrepancy by a factor of ∼3 occurs.

• Received 8 October 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.57.3039