DIELECTRONIC SATELLITE SPECTRA FOR HYDROGEN-LIKE IRON IN LOW-DENSITY PLASMAS

Wavelengths and intensities of dielectronic satellite lines of the type 1snl-2pnl have been calculated for n = 2, 3 and 4 in iron. These are compared with previous calculations for n = 2. The effect of cascades from higher satellite levels is shown to be negligible. An approximation is used to scale for all n > 4, in order to produce the total satellite spectrum, including the contribution to the apparent resonance line intensity. A technique is proposed for using this spectrum to measure the electron temperature in the source. An estimate is made of the dielectronic recombination rate, which is compared with the result of earlier semi-empirical formulae. © 1981 Royal Astronomical Society.