Guo-Xin Chen

A comprehensive study of relativistic and resonance effects in electron impact excitation of (e+Fe XVII) is carried out using the BPRM method in the relativistic close coupling approximation. Two sets of eigenfunction expansions are employed; first, up to the n = 3 complex corresponding 37 fine-structure levels (37CC) from 21 LS terms; second, up to the n = 4 corresponding to 89 fine-structure levels (89CC) from 49 LS terms. In contrast to previous works, the 37CC and the 89CC collision strengths exhibit considerable differences. Denser and broader resonances due to n = 4 are present in the 89CC results both above and {\it below} the 37 thresholds, thus significantly affecting the collision strengths for the primary X-ray and EUV transitions within the first 37 n = 3 levels. Extensive study of other effects on the collision strengths is also reported: (i) electric and magnetic multipole transitions E1, E2, E3 and M1, M2, (ii) J-partial wave convergence of dipole and non-dipole transitions, (iii) high energy behaviour compared to other approximations. Theortical results are benchmarked against experiments to resolve longstanding discrepancies -- collision strengths for the three prominent X-ray lines 3C, 3D and 3E at 15.014, 15.265, and 15.456 Åare in good agreement with two independent measurements on Electron-Beam-Ion-Traps (EBIT). Finally, line ratios from a collisional-radiative model using the new collisional rates are compared with observations from stellar coronae and EBITs to illustrate potential applications in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas.

New theoretical results from large-scale relativistic close coupling calculations reveal the precise effect of resonances in collisional excitation of x-ray lines of Ne-like Fe XVII. Employing the Breit-Pauli R-matrix method and a 89-level eigenfunction expansion including up to n = 4 levels shows significant resonance enhancement of the collision strengths of forbidden and intercombination transitions. The present results differ from all previous calculations, heretofore without detailed resonance structures, and should help resolve longstanding discrepancies. In particular, the present line ratios of three benchmark diagnostic lines 3C, 3D, and 3E at 15.014, 15.265, and 15.456 A respectively, are in excellent agreement with two independent measurements on Electron-Beam-Ion-Traps [Laming et al, Astrophys. J, 545, L161 (2000) and Brown et al, Astrophys. J, 502, 1015 (1998)]. The strong energy dependence due to resonances in these and other cross sections is demonstrated for the first time. It is of general importance and strongly manifests itself in x-ray plasma diagnostics.