The 9th International Colloquium on Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas (ASOS 9)

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 of Bengt Edlén, who presented the initial ASOS talk in 1983. The ninth ASOS was hosted by the Lund Observatory and the Physics Department of Lund University during from 8 to 10 August 2007 and was attended by nearly 100 registrants. An encouraging sign for the field was the number of young researchers in attendance. This volume contains the submitted contributions from the poster presentations of the conference, and represents approximately forty percent of the presented posters. A complementary volume of Physica Scripta provides the written transactions of the ASOS9 invited presentations. With these two volumes the character of ASOS9 is more fully evident, and 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 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, the latter including fusion energy and lighting research. As a 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 acknowledgements 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, leadership qualities, and friendship will be dearly missed.Acknowledgements: The spirit of ASOS has been maintained by the dedication of the organizing committees who 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 is to be commended for their efforts in providing an interesting program. They have also served as the primary source of referees, which 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 through both 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. Glenn M Wahlgren Wolfgang L Wiese Peter Beiersdorfer Editors