HYDROGEN PHOTOIONIZATION RATES FOR CHROMOSPHERIC AND PROMINENCE PLASMAS

New values of hydrogen photoionization rates for subordinate continua arising from bound levels with the principal quantum number i = 2-5 have been evaluated numerically, using an extensive compilation of the observed photospheric radiation fields. These rates can be directly incorporated into the equations of statistical equilibrium as so-called fixed rates. We tabulate the photoionization rates and equivalent radiation temperatures for various heights above the photosphere, which is particularly useful for chromospheric and prominence non-LTE modeling. Finally, we compare our results with those previously obtained by other authors.