X-ray Signature of Charge Exchange in the Spectra of L-shell Iron Ions

Journal Article · Fri Jan 05 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Astrophysical Journal

OSTI ID:972833

Beiersdorfer, P; Schweikhard, L; Liebisch, P; Brown, G V

The X-ray signature of charge exchange between highly charged L-shell iron ions and neutral gas atoms was studied in the laboratory in order to assess its diagnostic utility. Significant differences with spectra formed by electron-impact excitation were observed. In particular, a strong enhancement was found of the emission corresponding to n {le} 4 {yields} n = 2 transitions relative to the n = 3 {yields} n = 2 emission. This enhancement was detectable even with relatively low-resolution X-ray instrumentation (E/{Delta}E {approx} 10) and may enable future identification of charge exchange as a line-formation mechanism in astrophysical spectra.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 972833
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JRNL-227163; ASJOAB; TRN: US1001545
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 702, Issue 1; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
CHARGE EXCHANGE
EXCITATION
IRON IONS
L SHELL
SPECTRA