Hiroyuki A. Sakaue

In the past few decades, X-ray astronomy satellites equipped with grating spectrometers and microcalorimeters have enabled high-resolution spectroscopic observations of astrophysical objects. The need for accurate atomic data has arose as we attempt detailed analysis of the high-resolution spectra they provide. This is because current spectral models, which heavily rely on theoretical calculations, entail non-negligible uncertainties. We employ a plasma spectroscopy device called electron beam ion trap (EBIT) to experimentally obtain precise atomic data. An EBIT with a design that allows combined operation with synchrotron radiation facilities was developed based on the Heidelberg Compact EBIT and installed at ISAS/JAXA for this purpose. We conducted a spectroscopic experiment using the JAXA-EBIT at the synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8, and successfully obtained high-resolution spectra of the L$α$ resonance transition of Ne-like Fe$^{16+}$ ions, 3C, as well as the K$α$ resonance transition of He-like O$^{6+}$ ions. We also measured another Ne-like Fe$^{16+}$ L$α$ resonance transition, 3G, and constrained an upper limit of the oscillator strength ratio of 3G to 3C, using our experimental results. The experimental values obtained in this study will be applied to observational studies of astrophysical objects as a part of the plasma spectral modeling.

We present the basic performance and experimental results of an electron beam ion trap (JAXA-EBIT), newly introduced to the Japanese astronomical community. Accurate atomic data are indispensable for the reliable interpretation of high-resolution X-ray spectra of astrophysical plasmas. The JAXA-EBIT generates highly charged ions under well-controlled laboratory conditions, providing experimental benchmarks for atomic data. The JAXA-EBIT shows performance comparable to the Heidelberg compact EBIT through dielectronic recombination measurements of highly charged Ar ions. Furthermore, we conducted resonant photoexcitation spectroscopy of highly charged ions using the soft X-ray beamline BL17SU at the synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8. As a result, we successfully detected resonance transitions of He-like O$^{6+}$ and Ne-like Fe$^{16+}$. These results demonstrate the capability of the JAXA-EBIT for precise measurement of atomic data and show that it serves as a powerful tool for advancing astrophysical research.

We report a high-precision determination of the natural-abundance-averaged nuclear charge-radius difference between Yb and Lu using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy of highly charged ions (HCIs). By measuring the $D_1$ transition energies in Na- and Mg-like charge states of Lu and Yb confined in the Tokyo electron-beam ion trap, we extract meV-level energy shifts that are directly sensitive to nuclear-size effects. Transition-energy differences obtained from these spectra are compared with state-of-the-art relativistic many-body perturbation theory, including a new treatment of Mg-like ions. We develop a generalized framework to propagate uncertainties arising from nuclear deformation and surface diffuseness and evaluate corresponding nuclear-sensitivity coefficients. Combining Na- and Mg-like results yields mutually consistent radius differences, demonstrating the robustness of both the experimental calibration and the theoretical predictions. To determine absolute isotopic radii, we perform a generalized least-squares optimization incorporating our HCI constraints together with optical-isotope-shift data and muonic-atom results. This analysis establishes that the $^{175}$Lu charge radius is smaller than that of $^{174}$Yb, restoring the expected odd-even staggering across the $N=94$ isotonic chain. Our recommended value, $R(^{175}\text{Lu}) = 5.291(11)$ fm, reduces the uncertainty of the Lu radius by a factor of three compared with the previous electron-scattering result and resolves a long-standing anomaly in rare-earth nuclear systematics. This work demonstrates that EUV spectroscopy of HCIs provides a powerful and broadly applicable method for precision nuclear-structure studies in heavy, deformed nuclei. The techniques developed here enable future investigations of isotonic and isoelectronic sequences, including radioactive nuclides and higher-$Z$ systems.

The wavelength and rate of the $5p-5s$ transition of W XIV - W XVI ions have been calculated by the relativistic configuration interaction (RCI) method with the implementation of Flexible Atomic code (FAC). A reasonable collisional-radiative model (CRM) has been constructed to simulate the $5p - 5s$ transition spectrum of W XIV - W XVI ions which had been observed in electron beam ion trap (EBIT) device. The results are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data, and might be applied to identify the controversial spectra. The confusion on the assignment of the ionization stage are solved in the present work.

We present extreme ultraviolet spectra of Ag-like W$^{27+}$ observed with an electron beam ion trap. In the spectra, the $4f_{7/2, 5/2}$ -- $5s$ transitions are identified as the first observation of spontaneous electric octupole emission. Our theoretical investigation shows that the emission line intensity is strongly and specifically enhanced at the atomic number 74 by an anomalous behavior of cascading contribution to $5s$ via $5p\leftarrow5d$.

A detailed-level collisional-radiative model for the M1 transition spectrum of the Ca-like W$^{54+}$ ion as observed in an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) was constructed based on atomic data calculated by the relativistic configuration interaction method and distorted wave theory. The present calculated transition energy, rate and intensity of W$^{54+}$ M1 transitions are compared with previous theoretical and experimental values. The results are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. The synthetic spectrum explained the EBIT spectrum in the 12-20 nm region, while a new possibly strong transition has been predicted to be observable with an appropriate electron beam energy. The present work provides accurate atomic data that may be used in plasma diagnostics applications.

We present direct observation of the M1 transition between the fine structure splitting in the 4f13 5s2 5p6 2F ground state of W VIII. The spectroscopic data of few-times ionized tungsten ions are important for the future ITER diagnostics, but there is a serious lack of data. The present study is part of an ongoing effort to solve this lack. Emission from the tungsten ions produced and trapped in a compact electron beam ion trap is observed with a Czerny-Turner visible spectrometer. Spectra in the EUV range are also observed at the same time to help the identification of the previously-unreported visible lines. The observed wavelength 574.47 pm 0.03 nm (air), which corresponds to the fine structure splitting of 17402.5 pm 0.9 cm-1, shows reasonable agreement with the previously reported value 17410 pm 5 cm-1 obtained indirectly through the analysis of EUV spectra [Ryabtsev et al., Atoms 3 (2015) 273].

Plasma diagnostics in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas by using visible spectrum strongly depends on the knowledge of fundamental atomic properties. A detailed collisional-radiative model of W$^{26+}$ ions has been constructed by considering radiative and electron excitation processes, in which the necessary atomic data had been calculated by relativistic configuration interaction method with the implementation of Flexible Atomic Code. The visible spectrum observed at an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) in Shanghai in the range of 332 nm to 392 nm was reproduced by present calculations. Some transition pairs of which the intensity ratio are sensitive to the electron density were selected as potential candidate of plasma diagnostics. Their electron density dependence are theoretically evaluated for the cases of EBIT plasmas and magnetic confinement fusion plasmas.

We present extreme ultraviolet and visible spectra of promethiumlike tungsten and gold obtained with an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). Although the contributions from a few charge states are involved in the spectra, the charge state of the ion assigned to the observed lines is definitely identified by the time-of-flight analysis of the ions performed at the same time with the spectroscopic measurements. Experimental results are compared with collisional-radiative model calculations as well as previous experimental and theoretical studies.