Photoionization and recombination of Fe XIX

Abstract

Photoionization cross sections and recombination rate coefficients are presented for the L-shell ground state fine structure levels $2s^22p^4 \ ^3P_{2,0,1}$ of Fe~XIX. Several sets of calculations including relativistic effects are carried out: (i) Breit-Pauli R-matrix (BPRM), (ii) Relativistic Distorted Wave (RDW), and (iii) a semi-relativistic calculation. Non-relativistic LS coupling calculations are also done for comparison. The BPRM calculations employ a configuration interaction target representation for Fe~XX consisting of 12 LS terms (23-fine structure levels), as in the recently reported BPRM calculations by Donnelly et al (MNRAS, 307, 595, 1999). The background cross sections in all three sets of present calculations agree with one another, but differ considerably from those of Donnelly et al. Owing to much more extensive resonance structures in the present BPRM calculations, the sum of the corresponding recombination rate coefficients for the $^3P_{2,0,1}$ levels are up to 50% higher than the LS rates at low temperarures but comparable for higher temperatures; in contrast to the results of Donnelly et al who obtained the LS rates to be higher than their BPRM results by about a factor of 2. Reasons for these discrepancies are discussed.