Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths (ASOS9)

Abstract

For the first time since its inaugural meeting in Lund in 1983, the triennial international conference on Atomic Spectroscopy and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas (ASOS) returned to Lund, Sweden. Lund has been a home to atomic spectroscopy since the time of Janne Rydberg, and included the pioneering work in laboratory and solar spectroscopy by Bengt Edlén, who presented the initial ASOS talk in 1983. The ninth ASOS was hosted by the Lund Observatory and Physics Department of Lund University, 7–10 August 2007, and was attended by 99 registrants. An encouraging sign for the field was the number of young researchers in attendance. This volume of Physica Scripta contains contributions from the invited presentations of the conference. For the first time, papers from the ASOS9 poster presentations have been made feely available online in a complementary volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series. With these two volumes the character of ASOS9 is more evident, and together they serve as a review of the state of atomic spectroscopy for spectrum analysis and the determination of oscillator strengths and their applications.The goal of ASOS is to be a forum for atomic spectroscopy, where both the providers and the users of atomic data, which includes wavelengths, energy levels, lifetimes, oscillator strengths and line shape parameters, can meet to discuss recent advances in experimental and theoretical techniques and their application to understanding the physical processes that are responsible for producing observed spectra. The applications mainly originate from the fields of astrophysics and plasma physics, which includes fusion energy and lighting research. The oral presentations, all but one of which are presented in this volume, provided an extensive synopsis of techniques currently in use and those that are being planned. New to ASOS9 was the extent to which techniques such as cold, trapped atoms and molecules and frequency combs are being used to determine fundamental quantities. Atomic data for programs in astronomical infrared spectroscopy were highlighted by both oral and poster contributions as being an important area in the near future.As part of ASOS9 we were honored to celebrate the retirement of Professor Sveneric Johansson. At a special session on the spectroscopy of iron, which was conducted in his honor, he presented his insights into the Fe II term system and his most recent work with astrophysical applications. Professor Johansson was also honored with heart-felt acknowledgments at the conference dinner on an unusually warm Lund summer evening. Prior to the publication of these proceedings, we were extremely saddened to learn of Sveneric's passing on 10 October 2008. Sveneric Johansson, a founding father of the ASOS conference series, was widely known for his pioneering work on the atomic structure of heavy elements as a well as for his leadership of the international FERRUM Project, which successfully determined a definitive set of spectroscopic data for Fe II. His knowledge of spectroscopy, his leadership qualities and his friendship will be sadly missed. AcknowledgmentsThe spirit of ASOS has been maintained by the dedication of the organizing committees that have kept a tight focus on the nature of the conference yet allowed for the incorporation of new areas of research in the field. The International Program Committee for ASOS9 are to be commended for their efforts in providing an interesting program. They have also served as the primary source of manuscript referees, who along with other referees have performed a valuable service. Many thanks must be given to the local organizing committee, who made the return of ASOS to Lund a memorable experience, both through the many opportunities for social gatherings during the conference and a post-conference outing through Skåne. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, the Wenner-Gren Foundation and the Lund Laser Centre and Department of Physics for their generous support in making ASOS9 possible. Professor Sveneric Johansson 1942–2008.