Electron-ion recombination of Be-like C, N, and O

Abstract

The absolute total recombination reaction rate coefficients for Be-like C, N, and O have been measured using the CRYRING storage ring and compared with the results from distorted-wave theory. For the theory results, it is found that shifts to NIST energy values for the core excited energies of the recombining system are not sufficient to accurately match all of the resonance positions and heights at lower energies. These theory results represent the quality of most archived theory DR data. The accurate calculation of these low energy resonances still presents a significant challenge to theory. In addition, trielectronic recombination resonances, associated with the formation of triply excited states during recombination, have been observed in the total recombination reaction rate coefficient spectra of N 3+ and O 4+. Finally, we construct a dielectronic recombination Maxwellian rate coefficient from the experimental results for low n resonances, and from the theoretical results for high n resonances. In the case of O 4+, the trielectronic recombination resonances have a strong influence on the low temperature Maxwellian rate coefficient. Our best hybrid Maxwellian rate coefficient is compared with archived distorted-wave theory data, and is found to be in reasonable agreement, even at the low temperatures. © ESO 2005.