arXiv subjects

K. M. Aggarwal

Publications and source records attributed to K. M. Aggarwal.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Comment on "Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock energy levels and radiative rates for Br-like tungsten" by S. Aggarwal, A.K.S. Jha, and M. Mohan [Can . J. Phys. 91 (2013) 394]

We report calculations of energy levels and oscillator strengths for transitions in W XL, undertaken with the general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package ({\sc grasp}) and flexible atomic code ({\sc fac}). Comparisons are made with existing results and the accuracy of the data is assessed. Discrepancies with the most recent results of S. Aggarwal et al. [Can. J. Phys. {\bf 91} (2013) 394] are up to 0.4 Ryd and up to two orders of magnitude for energy levels and oscillator strengths, respectively. Discrepancies for lifetimes are even larger, up to four orders of magnitude for some levels. Our energy levels are estimated to be accurate to better than 0.5% (i.e. 0.2 Ryd), whereas results for oscillator strengths and lifetimes should be accurate to better than 20%.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in He-like Kr XXXV

We report calculations of energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation cross sections and rates for transitions in He-like Kr XXXV. The GRASP (general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package) is adopted for calculating energy levels and radiative rates. For determining the collision strengths and subsequently the excitation rates, the Dirac Atomic R-matrix Code (DARC) is used. Oscillator strengths, radiative rates and line strengths are reported for all E1, E2, M1, and M2 transitions among the lowest 49 levels. Additionally, theoretical lifetimes are listed for all 49 levels. Collision strengths are averaged over a Maxwellian velocity distribution and the effective collision strengths obtained listed over a wide temperature range up to 10**8.1 K. Comparisons are made with similar data obtained with the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC) to assess the accuracy of the results and to highlight the importance of resonances, included in calculations with DARC, in the determination of effective collision strengths. Differences between the collision strengths from DARC and FAC, particularly for forbidden transitions, are also discussed. Finally, discrepancies between the present results of effective collision strengths from the {\sc darc} code and earlier semi-relativistic $R$-matrix data are noted over a wide range of electron temperatures for many transitions of Kr XXXV.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Energy levels, radiative rates, and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in Li-like ions with 12 <= Z <= 20

We report calculations of energy levels, radiative rates, and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in Li-like ions with 12 <= Z <= 20. The GRASP (general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package) is adopted for calculating energy levels and radiative rates, while for determining the collision strengths and subsequently the excitation rates, the Dirac atomic R-matrix code DARC is used. Oscillator strengths, radiative rates, and line strengths are reported for all E1, E2, M1, and M2 transitions among the lowest 24 levels of the Li-like ions considered. Collision strengths have been averaged over a Maxwellian velocity distribution, and the effective collision strengths obtained are reported over a wide temperature range up to 10$^{7.4}$ K. Additionally, lifetimes are also listed for all calculated levels of the above ions. Finally, extensive comparisons are made with available results in the literature, as well as with our parallel calculations for all parameters with the Flexible Atomic Code FAC in order to assess the accuracy of the reported results.

physics.atm-clus↗

arXiv2010

Highly Ionized Sodium X-ray Line Emission from the Solar Corona and the Abundance of Sodium

{The \ion{Na}{x} X-ray lines between 10.9 and 11.2~Å have attracted little attention but are of interest since they enable an estimate of the coronal abundance of Na to be made. This is of great interest in the continuing debate on the nature of the FIP (first ionization potential) effect. } {Observations of the \ion{Na}{x} lines with the Solar Maximum Mission Flat Crystal Spectrometer and a rocket-borne X-ray spectrometer are used to measure the Na/Ne abundance ratio, i.e. the ratio of an element with very low FIP to one with high FIP.} {New atomic data are used to generate synthetic spectra which are compared with the observations, with temperature and the Na/Ne abundance ratio as free parameters.} {Temperature estimates from the observations indicate that the line emission is principally from non-flaring active regions, and that the Na/Ne abundance ratio is $0.07 \pm 50$\%.} {The Na/Ne abundance ratio is close to a coronal value for which the abundances of low-FIP elements (FIP $< 10$~eV) are enhanced by a factor of 3 to 4 over those found in the photosphere. For low-temperature ($T_e \leqslant 1.5$~MK) spectra, the presence of \ion{Fe}{xvii} lines requires that either a higher-temperature component is present or a revision of ionization or recombination rates is needed. }

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Emission lines of Fe XI in the 257--407 A wavelength region observed in solar spectra from EIS/Hinode and SERTS

Theoretical emission-line ratios involving Fe XI transitions in the 257-407 A wavelength range are derived using fully relativistic calculations of radiative rates and electron impact excitation cross sections. These are subsequently compared with both long wavelength channel Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) spectra from the Hinode satellite (covering 245-291 A), and first-order observations (235-449 A) obtained by the Solar Extreme-ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS). The 266.39, 266.60 and 276.36 A lines of Fe XI are detected in two EIS spectra, confirming earlier identifications of these features, and 276.36 A is found to provide an electron density diagnostic when ratioed against the 257.55 A transition. Agreement between theory and observation is found to be generally good for the SERTS data sets, with discrepancies normally being due to known line blends, while the 257.55 A feature is detected for the first time in SERTS spectra. The most useful Fe XI electron density diagnostic is found to be the 308.54/352.67 intensity ratio, which varies by a factor of 8.4 between N_e = 10^8 and 10^11 cm^-3, while showing little temperature sensitivity. However, the 349.04/352.67 ratio potentially provides a superior diagnostic, as it involves lines which are closer in wavelength, and varies by a factor of 14.7 between N_e = 10^8 and 10^11 cm^-3. Unfortunately, the 349.04 A line is relatively weak, and also blended with the second-order Fe X 174.52 A feature, unless the first-order instrument response is enhanced.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2007

An investigation of Fe XVI emission lines in solar and stellar EUV and soft X-ray spectra

New fully relativistic calculations of radiative rates and electron impact excitation cross sections for Fe XVI are used to determine theoretical emission-line ratios applicable to the 251 - 361 A and 32 - 77 A portions of the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray spectral regions, respectively. A comparison of the EUV results with observations from the Solar Extreme-Ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) reveals excellent agreement between theory and experiment. However, for emission lines in the 32 - 49 A portion of the soft X-ray spectral region, there are large discrepancies between theory and measurement for both a solar flare spectrum obtained with the X-Ray Spectrometer/Spectrograph Telescope (XSST) and observations of Capella from the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETGS) on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These are probably due to blending in the solar flare and Capella data from both first order lines and from shorter wavelength transitions detected in second and third order. By contrast, there is very good agreement between our theoretical results and the XSST and LETGS observations in the 50 - 77 A wavelength range, contrary to previous results. In particular, there is no evidence that the Fe XVI emission from the XSST flare arises from plasma at a much higher temperature than that expected for Fe XVI in ionization equilibrium, as suggested by earlier work.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Soft X-ray emission lines of Fe XV in solar flare observations and the Chandra spectrum of Capella

Recent calculations of atomic data for Fe XV have been used to generate theoretical line ratios involving n = 3-4 transitions in the soft X-ray spectral region (52-83 A), for a wide range of electron temperatures and densities applicable to solar and stellar coronal plasmas. A comparison of these with solar flare observations from a rocket-borne spectrograph (XSST) reveals generally good agreement between theory and experiment. In particular, the 82.76 A emission line in the XSST spectrum is identified, for the first time to our knowledge in an astrophysical source. Most of the Fe XV transitions which are blended have had the species responsible clearly identified, although there remain a few instances where this has not been possible. The line ratio calculations are also compared with a co-added spectrum of Capella obtained with the Chandra satellite, which is probably the highest signal-to-noise observation achieved for a stellar source in the 25-175 A soft X-ray region. Good agreement is found between theory and experiment, indicating that the Fe XV lines are reliably detected in Chandra spectra, and hence may be employed as diagnostics to determine the temperature and/or density of the emitting plasma. However the line blending in the Chandra data is such that individual emission lines are difficult to measure accurately, and fluxes may only be reliably determined via detailed profile fitting of the observations. The co-added Capella spectrum is made available to hopefully encourage further exploration of the soft X-ray region in astronomical sources.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Fe XI emission lines in a high resolution extreme ultraviolet spectrum obtained by SERTS

New calculations of radiative rates and electron impact excitation cross sections for Fe XI are used to derive emission line intensity ratios involving 3s^23p^4 - 3s^23p^33d transitions in the 180-223 A wavelength range. These ratios are subsequently compared with observations of a solar active region, obtained during the 1995 flight Solar EUV Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS). The version of SERTS flown in 1995 incorporated a multilayer grating that enhanced the instrumental sensitivity for features in the 170 - 225 A wavelength range, observed in second-order between 340 and 450 A. This enhancement led to the detection of many emission lines not seen on previous SERTS flights, which were measured with the highest spectral resolution (0.03 A) ever achieved for spatially resolved active region spectra in this wavelength range. However, even at this high spectral resolution, several of the Fe XI lines are found to be blended, although the sources of the blends are identified in the majority of cases. The most useful Fe XI electron density diagnostic line intensity ratio is I(184.80 A)/I(188.21 A). This ratio involves lines close in wavelength and free from blends, and which varies by a factor of 11.7 between N_e = 10^9 and 10^11 cm^-3, yet shows little temperature sensitivity. An unknown line in the SERTS spectrum at 189.00 A is found to be due to Fe XI, the first time (to our knowledge) this feature has been identified in the solar spectrum. Similarly, there are new identifications of the Fe XI 192.88, 198.56 and 202.42 A features, although the latter two are blended with S VIII/Fe XII and Fe XIII, respectively.

astro-ph↗