DIELECTRONIC AND RADIATIVE RECOMBINATION OF LITHIUM-LIKE GOLD

We report the first measurements on radiative and dielectronic recombination (RR and DR) of very highly charged ions at energies E(c.m.) as low as 0 to 50 eV. Novel techniques were employed at the heavy-ion storage ring ESR to obtain absolute recombination rates of Au76+(1s(2)2s). The increase of the RR rate for E(c.m) --> 0 could be recorded and single DR resonances in Au75+(1s(2)2p3/26l(j)) resolved. The experimental data allow sensitive judgement of calculations based on the Bethe-Salpeter approach to RR combined with results for DR from perturbative-relativistic, semirelativistic, and fully relativistic theories. Significant discrepancies are found only in the energy region of the 2p3/26l3/2 resonances.