Atomic data and spectral line intensities for Ca XVII

Abstract

Electron impact collision strengths, energy levels, oscillator strengths, and spontaneous radiative decay rates are calculated for Ca XVII. The configurations used are 2 s 2 , 2 s 2 p , 2 p 2 , 2 l 3 l ′ , 2 l 4 l ′ and 2 s 5 l ′ , with l = s,p , and l ′ = s,p,d giving rise to 92 fine-structure levels in intermediate coupling. Collision strengths are calculated at seven incident energies (15, 30, 75, 112.5, 150, 187.5 and 225 Ry) for the transitions within the three lowest configurations corresponding to the 10 lowest energy levels, and at five incident energies (75, 112.5, 150, 187.5 and 225 Ry) for transitions between the lowest five levels and the n = 3 , 4 , 5 configurations. Calculations have been carried out using the distorted wave approximation. Excitation rate coefficients are calculated as a function of electron temperature by assuming a Maxwellian electron velocity distribution. Using the excitation rate coefficients and the radiative transition rates of the present work, and R-Matrix results for the 2 s 2 , 2 s 2 p , 2 p 2 configurations available in the literature, statistical equilibrium equations for level populations are solved at electron densities covering the range of 10 8 – 10 14 cm - 3 at an electron temperature of log T e ( K ) = 6.7 , corresponding to the maximum abundance of Ca XVII. Spectral line intensities are calculated, and their diagnostic relevance is discussed. This dataset will be made available in the next version of the CHIANTI database.