X-ray fluorescence spectrum of highly charged Fe ions driven by strong free-electron-laser fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nonlinear dynamical effects influence x-ray spectra of highly charged iron ions under strong free-electron-laser fields, providing improved models for interpreting astrophysical and laboratory spectra.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model including electron-correlation, quantum-electrodynamics, and nonlinear dynamical effects to better explain observed spectral lines of highly charged Fe ions.

Findings

Nonlinear dynamical effects are crucial for accurate spectral modeling.

Discrepancies between theory and experiment can be resolved with advanced models.

Spectrum analysis distinguishes between coherent and incoherent emission parts.

Abstract

The influence of nonlinear dynamical effects is analyzed on the observed spectra of controversial 3C and 3D astrophysically relevant x-ray lines in neonlike Fe${}^{16+}$ and the A, B, C lines in natriumlike Fe${}^{15+}$ ions. First, a large-scale configuration-interaction calculation of oscillator strengths is performed with the inclusion of higher-order electron-correlation effects. Also, quantum-electrodynamic corrections to the transition energies are calculated. Further considered dynamical effects provide a possible resolution of the discrepancy between theory and experiment found by recent x-ray free-electron-laser measurements of these controversial lines. We find that, for strong x-ray sources, the modeling of the spectral lines by a peak with an area proportional to the oscillator strength is not sufficient and nonlinear dynamical effects have to be taken into account. Thus, we advocate the use of light-matter-interaction models also valid for strong light fields in the analysis and interpretation of the associated astrophysical and laboratory spectra. We investigate line-strength ratios distinguishing between the coherent and incoherent parts of the emission spectrum. In addition, the spectrum of Fe${}^{15+}$, an autoionizing ion which was also present in the recent laboratory experiment, is also analized.