Soft x-ray spectra and collisional ionization equilibrium of iron ions with data upgrade of electron–ion collisions

Abstract

Line emissivities and ionic fraction in (non-)equilibrium are crucial for understanding the x-ray and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectra. These emission originate from electron-impact excitations for a level population of highly charged ions in coronal-like plasma. Recently, a large amount of excitation data was generated within the -matrix framework by the computational atomic physics community, especially the UK APAP network. These data take resonances in electron–ion collisions into account appropriately, which enhances the effective excitation rates and also the line emissivities in x-ray and EUV regions. For ionization equilibrium data, the earlier compilation by Mazzotta et al (1998 Astron. Astrophys. Supp. Ser. 133 403) was used extensively by the astronomical community until the update by Bryans et al (2006 Astrophys. J. Supp. Ser. 167 343), as well as the compilation of Dere (2007 Astron. Astrophys. 466 771) for electron-impact ionization rates. In past years, many experimental measurements have been performed of highly charged iron ions in heavy-ion storage ring facilities. In this work, we will investigate the line emissivities and ionization equilibrium of highly charged iron ions by using recent theoretical or experimental data of electron-impact excitations and ionizations.