Fe$^{\bf{15+}}$ dielectronic recombination and the effects of configuration interaction between resonances with different captured electron principal quantum number

TL;DR

This paper investigates dielectronic recombination of Fe$^{15+}$ ions, revealing that configuration interaction between resonances with different principal quantum numbers significantly affects resonance strengths, aligning theory with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces the consideration of configuration interaction between resonances with different captured electron quantum numbers, a factor previously neglected in theoretical models.

Findings

Configuration interaction reduces resonance strengths for n ≥ 5.

Including CI explains discrepancies between theory and experiment.

The study improves the accuracy of DR rate calculations for Fe$^{15+}$.

Abstract

Dielectronic recombination (DR) of Na-like Fe$^{15+}$ forming Mg-like Fe$^{14+}$ via excitation of a $2l$ core electron has been investigated. We find that configuration interaction (CI) between DR resonances with different captured electron principal quantum numbers $n$ can lead to a significant reduction in resonance strengths for $n \geq 5$. Previous theoretical work for this system has not considered this form of CI. Including it accounts for most of the discrepancy between previous theoretical and experimental results.