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Title: Electron-impact excitation of Fe{sup 2+}: A comparison of intermediate coupling frame transformation, Breit-Pauli and Dirac R-matrix calculations

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
 [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG (United Kingdom)
  2. Department of Physics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5311 (United States)

Modeling the spectral emission of low-charge iron group ions enables the diagnostic determination of the local physical conditions of many cool plasma environments such as those found in H II regions, planetary nebulae, active galactic nuclei, etc. Electron-impact excitation drives the population of the emitting levels and, hence, their emissivities. By carrying-out Breit-Pauli and intermediate coupling frame transformation (ICFT) R-matrix calculations for the electron-impact excitation of Fe{sup 2+}, which both use the exact same atomic structure and the same close-coupling expansion, we demonstrate the validity of the application of the powerful ICFT method to low-charge iron group ions. This is in contradiction to the finding of Bautista et al., who carried-out ICFT and Dirac R-matrix calculations for the same ion. We discuss possible reasons.

OSTI ID:
22357121
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 785, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English