Low energy range dielectronic recombination of Fluorine-like Fe17+ at the CSRm

TL;DR

This study measures the dielectronic recombination rate of Fe17+ ions at low energies, compares it with theoretical calculations, and highlights discrepancies that challenge current models, aiding astrophysical plasma modeling.

Contribution

First experimental measurement of low energy dielectronic recombination rates for Fe17+ ions, providing data to improve astrophysical plasma models.

Findings

Reasonable agreement between experiment and theory at higher energies.

Significant discrepancies at low energies challenge existing theoretical models.

Experimental data can refine plasma rate coefficients used in astrophysics.

Abstract

The accuracy of dielectronic recombination (DR) data for astrophysics related ions plays a key role in astrophysical plasma modeling. The measurement of the absolute DR rate coefficient of Fe17+ ions was performed at the main cooler storage ring at Institute of Modern Physics, Lanzhou, China. The experimental electron-ion collision energy range covers first Rydberg series up to n = 24 for the DR resonances associated with the 2P1/2--2P3/2 dn = 0 core excitations. A theoretical calculation was performed by using FAC code and compared with the measured DR rate coefficient. Overall reasonable agreement was found between the experimental results and calculations. Moreover, plasma rate coefficient was deduced from the experimental DR rate coefficient and compared with the available results from the literature. At the low energy range significant discrepancies were found therein and the measured resonances challenged state-of-the-art theory at the low collision energies.