Atomic data from the IRON project - LI. Electron impact excitation of FeIX

We calculate collision strengths and thermally averaged collision strengths for electron excitation between the one hundred and forty energetically lowest levels of Fe8+. The scattering target is more elaborate than in any earlier work and large increases are found in the excitation rates among the levels of the 3s(2)3p(5)3d electron configuration due to resonance series that have not been considered previously. The implications for solar and stellar spectroscopy have been discussed elsewhere (Storey & Zeippen 2001). We correct some errors that were made in generating the figures given in that paper and present corrected versions

Collision strengths and transition probabilities for Co II infrared forbidden lines

We calculate collision strengths and their thermally-averaged Maxwellian values for electron excitation and de-excitation between the fifteen lowest levels of singly-ionised cobalt, Co+, which give rise to emission lines in the near- and mid-infrared. Transition probabilities are also calculated and relative line intensities predicted for conditions typical of supernova ejecta. The diagnostic potential of the 10.52, 15.46 and 14.74 micro-metre transition lines is briefly discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 7 table

Ipopv2: Photoionization of Ni XIV -- a test case

Several years ago, M. Asplund and coauthors (2004) proposed a revision of the Solar composition. The use of this new prescription for Solar abundances in standard stellar models generated a strong disagreement between the predictions and the observations of Solar observables. Many claimed that the Standard Solar Model (SSM) was faulty, and more specifically the opacities used in such models. As a result, activities around the stellar opacities were boosted. New experiments (J. Bailey at Sandia on Z-Pinch, The OPAC consortium at LULI200) to measure directly absorbtion coefficients have been realized or are underway. Several theoretical groups (CEA-OPAS, Los Alamos Nat. Lab., CEA-SCORCG, The Opacity Project - The Iron Project (IPOPv2)) have started new sets of calculations using different approaches and codes. While the new results seem to confirm the good quality of the opacities used in SSM, it remains important to improve and complement the data currently available. We present recent results in the case of the photoionization cross sections for Ni XIV (Ni13+ ) from IPOPv2 and possible implications on stellar modelling.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, Conf. on New Advances in Stellar Physics: From Microscopic to Macroscopic Processe

Atomic data from the Iron Project.XLIII. Transition probabilities for Fe V

An extensive set of dipole-allowed, intercombination, and forbidden transition probabilities for Fe V is presented. The Breit-Pauli R-matrix (BPRM) method is used to calculate 1.46 x 10^6 oscillator strengths for the allowed and intercombination E1 transitions among 3,865 fine-structure levels dominated by configuration complexes with n <= 10 and l <= 9. These data are complemented by an atomic structure configuration interaction (CI) calculation using the SUPERSTRUCTURE program for 362 relativistic quadrupole (E2) and magnetic dipole (M1) transitions among 65 low-lying levels dominated by the 3d^4 and 3d^ 4s configurations. Procedures have been developed for the identification of the large number of fine-structure levels and transitions obtained through the BPRM calculations. The target ion Fe VI is represented by an eigenfunction expansion of 19 fine-structure levels of 3d^3 and a set of correlation configurations. Fe V bound levels are obtained with angular and spin symmetries SL\pi and J\pi of the (e + Fe VI) system such that 2S+1 = 5,3,1, L <= 10, J <= 8 of even and odd parities. The completeness of the calculated dataset is verified in terms of all possible bound levels belonging to relevant LS terms and transitions in correspondence with the LS terms. The fine-structure averaged relativistic values are compared with previous Opacity Project LS coupling data and other works. The 362 forbidden transition probabilities considerably extend the available data for the E2 and M1 transtions, and are in good agreement with those computed by Garstang for the 3d^4 transitions.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figure. This paper marks the beginning of a large-scale effort of ab initio atomic calculations that should eventually lead to re-calculation of accurate iron opacities. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. (in press

Updated opacities from the opacity project

Using the code autostructure, extensive calculations of inner-shell atomic data have been made for the chemical elements He, C, N, O, Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe and Ni. The results are used to obtain updated opacities from the Opacity Project (OP). A number of other improvements on earlier work have also been included. Rosseland-mean opacities from the OP are compared with those from OPAL. Differences of 5-10 per cent occur. The OP gives the 'Z-bump', at log(T) 5.2, to be shifted to slightly higher temperatures. The opacities from the OP, as functions of temperature and density, are smoother than those from OPAL. The accuracy of the integrations used to obtain mean opacities can depend on the frequency mesh used. Tests involving variation of the numbers of frequency points show that for typical chemical mixtures the OP integrations are numerically correct to within 0.1 per cent. The accuracy of the interpolations used to obtain mean opacities for any required values of temperature and density depends on the temperature-density meshes used. Extensive tests show that, for all cases of practical interest, the OP interpolations give results correct to better than 1 per cent. Prior to a number of recent investigations which have indicated a need for downward revisions in the solar abundances of oxygen and other elements, there was good agreement between properties of the Sun deduced from helioseismology and from stellar evolution models calculated using OPAL opacities. The revisions destroy that agreement. In a recent paper, Bahcall et al. argue that the agreement would be restored if opacities for the regions of the Sun with 2 × 106T 5 × 106 K (0.7-0.4 R) were larger than those given by OPAL by about 10 per cent. In the region concerned, the present results from the OP do not differ from those of OPAL by more than 2.5 per cent