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As part of a larger project to complete a comprehensive catalogue of astrophysically relevant emission lines in support of new-generation X-ray observatories using the Lawrence Livermore electron beam ion traps EBIT-I and EBIT-II, the authors present observations of sulfur lines in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet regions. The database includes wavelength measurements with standard errors, relative intensities, and line assignments for 127 transitions of S VII through S XIV between 20 and 75 {angstrom}. The experimental data are complemented with a full set of calculations using the Hebrew University Lawrence Livermore Atomic Code (HULLAC). A comparison of the laboratory data with Chandra measurements of Procyon allows them to identify S VII-S XI lines.

The intensity ratios between 3 → 2 emission lines in Ni XIX were measured on the Livermore electron beam ion trap (EBIT-I) with a flat-field grating spectrometer and the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center X-ray microcalo-rimeter. The results are consistent with earlier measurements of Fe XVII and other Ne-like ions at Livermore and confirm the problems in the atomic modeling of the direct collisional excitation for Ne-like systems.

We present results from the analysis of an XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469, the first high resolution X-ray spectrum of this source. The Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) spectrum has several narrow absorption and emission lines of O, N, C and Ne, originating from gas at a range of ionisation parameters. from log xisimilar to1.6 to log xisimilar to-2 (where xi has the units erg cm s(-1)). We demonstrate that the ionisation state of the warm emitter is consistent with that of the high-ionisation phase of the warm absorber, and compare the warm absorber in this object with those in other sources. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.

We present an XMM-Newton observation of NGC 7469, including studies of the X-ray and UV variability, 0.2-10 keV spectral continuum, Fe K-alpha emission line and the first-ever high-resolution X-ray spectrum of the soft X-ray warm absorber. We compare the properties of this X-ray warm absorber with the UV warm absorber as seen in a FUSE observation one year previously. The 0.2-10 keV spectral continuum is best fitted by a power-law plus two blackbody model. An Fe K-alpha emission line is visible which consists of a single narrow component and is well-modelled by a simple gaussian. Narrow absorption and emission lines in the soft X-ray RGS spectrum demonstrate the existence of a multi-phase warm absorber with a range in log xi of ~ 2 to ~ -2 where xi is in erg cm s^-1. The warm absorber is blueshifted by several hundred km s^-1. The highest-ionisation phase of the absorber is the best constrained and has an overall equivalent Hydrogen column of order 10^20 cm^-2; we find that its ionisation parameter is consistent with that of the warm emitter which generates the narrow emission lines. We identify this high ionisation absorber with the low-velocity phase of the UV absorber observed by FUSE., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, accepted by A&A, a companion paper to "Multiwavelength studies of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC7469. I - Far UV observations with FUSE" by Kriss et al., astro-ph/0302552

In this letter we present the soft X-ray (5-35A) spectrum of the supernova remnant (SNR) IE 0102-72.3 in the Small Magellanic Cloud, acquired by the reflection grating spectrometer (RGS) aboard ESA's XMM-Newton Observatory. This extended-source X-ray spectrum of unprecedented spectral resolution (lambda/Delta(lambda) approx. 300) permits, for the first time, unabiguous identification and measurement of isolated emission lines and line complexes alike. The diagnostic power of performing spectroscopy using groups of emission lines from single ions is exemplified. In particular, the bright Lyman and helium series lines for light elements (C VI, O VII, O VIII, Ne IX, Ne X and possibly Mg XI & Mg XII) show peculiar ratios, where the values [1s - np] / [1s - (n + l)p] are systematically weaker than expected for electron impact excitation. These measured ratios resemble signatures of recombining or charge exchanging plasmas. We argue that charge exchange, given its large cross section and evidence for inhomogeneous media within the SNR, is a likely mechanism for the observed emission. Also. the well known temperature diagnostics G(T(sub e)) = (i + f)/r of helium- like triplets (O VII & Ne IX) indicate high temperatures, well above the maximum emission temperature T(sub m) for each ion, and consistent with a purely ionizing plasma. The density diagnostics R(n(sub e)) = f / i meanwhile, are consistent with the low density limit, as expected.

We present the first high resolution X-ray spectrum of the bright O4Ief supergiant star Zeta Puppis, obtained with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer on-board XMM-Newton. The spectrum exhibits bright emission lines of hydrogen-like and helium-like ions of nitrogen, oxygen, neon, magnesium, and silicon, as well as neon-like ions of iron. The lines are all significantly resolved, with characteristic velocity widths of order 1000-1500 km s^{-1}. The nitrogen lines are especially strong, and indicate that the shocked gas in the wind is mixed with CNO-burned material, as has been previously inferred for the atmosphere of this star from ultraviolet spectra. We find that the forbidden to intercombination line ratios within the helium-like triplets are anomalously low for N VI, O VII, and Ne IX. While this is sometimes indicative of high electron density, we show that in this case, it is instead caused by the intense ultraviolet radiation field of the star. We use this interpretation to derive constraints on the location of the X-ray emitting shocks within the wind that are consistent with current theoretical models for this system., 6 pages, 5figures, accepted for publication in A&A Letters XMM issue

The spectra of highly ionized iron species between 7 and 9 A have been studied using data obtained at the Princeton Large Torus tokamak under plasma conditions similar to those present in solar and stellar flares. The wavelengths of many iron lines are measured with very high accuracy (λ/Δλ up to 4 × 104), along with several other lines in species such as He-like Al XII and Mg XI. Theoretical spectra that predict both the wavelength and the intensity of Fe emission lines are compared with the observed spectra and are used to make accurate line identifications. Virtually all the observed iron lines are found to arise from n = 4, 5, and 6 → 2 transitions in Fe XXI-XXIV, and many lines are identified for the first time. Several transitions are shown to have diagnostic applications, and a detailed analysis of the density sensitivity of Fe XXII lines is presented.

Recent ASCA spectra exhibit discrepancies with the relative line intensities of various Fe XXIII and XXIV L-shell emission lines predicted by standard plasma emission codes. To address this issue, we have carried out a series of high-resolution, broadband measurements of Fe XXIV line emission using an electron beam ion trap facility. X-ray lines produced in the trap are detected and resolved using Bragg crystal spectrometers. We report measurements of 3 → 2 and 4 → 2 transitions, which result primarily from electron impact excitation. Overall, good agreement is found with distorted wave calculations.

Fluorescence of iron ions induced by an X-ray laser allows the relative oscillator strength for Fe xvii emission to be determined; it is found to differ by 3.6σ from the best quantum mechanical calculations, suggesting that the poor agreement between prediction and observations of the brightest Fe xvii line is rooted in the quality of the underlying atomic wavefunctions used in the models. The interpretation of some of the spectral data from the Chandra and XMM-Newton orbiting X-ray missions has been complicated by discrepancies between theory and observation involving the emission lines from the highly charged Fe16+ ion, also known as Fe XVII. Specifically, the intensity of the strongest Fe XVII line, one of the brightest X-ray emissions from galaxies and stars, is generally weaker than predicted. Sven Bernitt et al. report the results of laboratory experiments in which a target of iron ions was fluoresced with femtosecond X-ray pulses from a free-electron laser. They find a relative oscillator strength that differs by 3.6σ from the best quantum mechanical calculations, suggesting that the poor agreement is rooted in the calculations of the underlying atomic dynamics and that the current astrophysical models are not at fault. Highly charged iron (Fe16+, here referred to as Fe xvii) produces some of the brightest X-ray emission lines from hot astrophysical objects1, including galaxy clusters and stellar coronae, and it dominates the emission of the Sun at wavelengths near 15 angstroms. The Fe xvii spectrum is, however, poorly fitted by even the best astrophysical models. A particular problem has been that the intensity of the strongest Fe xvii line is generally weaker than predicted2,3. This has affected the interpretation of observations by the Chandra and XMM-Newton orbiting X-ray missions1, fuelling a continuing controversy over whether this discrepancy is caused by incomplete modelling of the plasma environment in these objects or by shortcomings in the treatment of the underlying atomic physics. Here we report the results of an experiment in which a target of iron ions was induced to fluoresce by subjecting it to femtosecond X-ray pulses from a free-electron laser4; our aim was to isolate a key aspect of the quantum mechanical description of the line emission. Surprisingly, we find a relative oscillator strength that is unexpectedly low, differing by 3.6σ from the best quantum mechanical calculations. Our measurements suggest that the poor agreement is rooted in the quality of the underlying atomic wavefunctions rather than in insufficient modelling of collisional processes.

Using a split-mirror setup attached to a Reaction Microscope at the Free electron LASer in Hamburg (FLASH) we traced as function of time the migration of a hydrogen atom in C2H4+ from one end of the molecule to the other by coincident CH+ + CH3+ fragment detection. In addition, the observed H3++C2H+ channel provides for the first time evidence for an isomerization-induced formation mechanism of H3+ molecules.

Recent measurements of the K‐shell and L‐shell x‐ray spectra of highly charged helium‐like and neonlike ions are presented that were performed on the Livermore electron beam ion traps and the Princeton tokamaks. These measurements provide new insights into collisional and indirect line formation processes, identifications of forbidden lines, and a new plasma line diagnostic of magnetic field strength.

We present the first high spectral resolution X-ray observation of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4636, obtained with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer on-board the XMM-Newton Observatory. The resulting spectrum contains a wealth of emission lines from various charge states of oxygen, neon, magnesium, and iron. Examination of the cross-dispersion profiles of several of these lines provides clear, unambiguous evidence of resonance scattering by the highest oscillator strength lines, as well as a weak temperature gradient in the inner regions of the interstellar medium. We invoke a sophisticated new Monte Carlo technique which allows us to properly account for these effects in performing quantitative fits to the spectrum. Our spectral fits are not subject to many of the systematics that have plagued earlier investigations. The derived metal abundances are higher than have been inferred from prior, lower spectral resolution observations of this source (Awaki et al. 1994), but are still incompatible with conventional chemical enrichment models of elliptical galaxies. In addition, our data are incompatible with standard cooling flow models for this system - our derived upper limit to the mass deposition rate is below the predicted value by a factor of 3--5., 8 pages, 2 figures; submitted to ApJ

The high XMM-Newton throughput allows a detailed investigation of the spatial, spectral and variability properties of the extended and point source emission of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 simultaneously. We characterize the brightest sources by their hardness ratios, detect a bright X-ray transient, and show the spectrum and light curve of the brightest point source, most likely a black-hole X-ray binary. The unresolved emission of two disk regions can be modeled by two thin thermal plasma components of 0.13 and 0.4 keV plus residual harder emission, with the lower temperature component originating from above the disk, the nuclear spectrum by a three temperature plasma (~0.6, 0.9, and 6 keV) with the higher temperatures increasingly absorbed. The high temperature component most likely originates from the starburst nucleus. No non-thermal component, that would point at a significant contribution from an active nucleus (AGN), is needed. Assuming that type IIa supernova remnants (SNRs) are mostly responsible for the E>4 keV emission, the detection with EPIC of the 6.7 keV line allows us to estimate a supernova rate within the nuclear starburst of 0.2 yr^-1. RGS spectra and EPIC images reveal that the limb-brightening of the plume is mostly seen in higher ionization emission lines, while in the lower ionization lines, and below 0.5 keV, the plume is more homogeneously structured. (abridged), 7 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in the special A&A Letters issue for XMM-Newton, a full resolution file is available at http://www.rosat.mpe-garching.mpg.de/~wnp/

The Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 478, observed during the EUVE all-sky survey, is the brightest EUV source among its class. The SW spectrum of this object shows evidence of discrete emission, although this interpretation is tentative, since the source spectrum must be extracted against a bright background. If the EUV flux is, in fact, composed partly of line emission, we consider the implications if this is the result of emission from a collision-driven plasma at temperatures ≳ 106 K. In this context, we discuss some of the constraints imposed on the emission-line region by this observation.

One of the dominant forms of astronomical line emission in the 6 A to 18 A spectral region is line emission produced by n=n′ to n=2 transitions in Fe16+ to Fe23+ (i.e., Fe L‐shell n‐2 line emission). Using the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory electron beam ion trap (EBIT) facility, we have carried out a number of measurements designed to address astrophysical issues concerning Fe L‐shell line emission. Desired ions are produced and trapped using the nearly monoenergetic electron beam of EBIT Trapped ions are collisionally excited and the resulting X‐ray line emission detected using Bragg crystal spectrometers. We have recently completed a line survey of Fe L‐shell 3‐2 line emission. The line survey will allow a more reliable accounting of line blending in astronomical spectra. We have now begun a series of broadband, high resolution line ratio measurements. These measurements are designed to benchmark atomic calculations used in astronomical plasma emission codes and also for comparison with X‐ray spectral observations of astronomical objects. Initial measurements have been carried out in Fe23+. Preliminary results agree with distorted wave calculations to within 20 percent and better.

X‐ray line emission in the 0.5–1.5 keV band has been detected in the spectra of a growing number of accretion‐powered x‐ray sources. The emission appears to be dominated by strong lines from the Fe L ions, although there are several peculiarities to the emission structure. In particular, the Fe L lines appear not to be accompanied by K‐shell lines of He‐ and H‐like oxygen, which should be several times stronger for most relevant emission mechanisms. If the lines are produced in a photoionized medium surrounding the central source, then the particular species observed may be strongly affected by the thermal stability of the irradiated gas. The coupling between the thermal balance and the ionization balance introduces a strongly non‐linear relation between abundance and strength of the emission lines for the important elements. The absence of strong oxygen emission may simply be due to the fact that the H‐ and He‐like oxygen line emission regions are located entirely in a thermally unstable phase of the medium, as would be predicted to occur for relatively small departures from standard abundances. We explore the fundamental thermal stability properties of an x‐ray photoionized plasma, and their dependence on elemental abundance, and we discuss the obvious importance of these properties for any prospects of determining the chemical composition of accreting gas in accretion‐powered sources from the x‐ray emission spectrum.

We present the first systematic laboratory measurements of high-resolution K-alpha spectra of intermediate ions of iron, Fe X-XVII. These lines are not produced in collisional equilibrium plasmas because of the relevant charge states cannot exist at the high electron temperatures required for appreciable excitation of the K-alpha transitions. However, they can provide excellent spectral diagnostics for nonequilibrium ionization conditions, such the ionizing plasmas of young supernova remnants. To facilitate the line identifications, we compare our spectra with theoretical atomic calculations performed using multiconfiguration parametric potential and Dirac-Fock atomic codes. Our measurements also allow direct comparison with time-dependent ionization balance calculations for ionizing plasmas, and good agreement is found.

An analysis of five Exosat observations of Cyg X-2, taken around a full binary orbit is presented. The data were obtained using all instrumentation (1000 lines/mm Transmission Grating Spectrometer, Channel Multiplier Array + filters, Medium-Energy experiment, and Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter) simultaneously, and span the full energy range 0.5-20 keV. No clear evidence was found for a correlation of any of the source characteristics with orbital phase. During two of the observations, significant iron K emission at 6.7 keV was detected, the relative strength of which seems to correlate with total X-ray intensity during two sharp intensity dips. The previous detection of discrete emission features in the 12-19 A band with the Einstein grating is confirmed.

Preliminary results of an EXOSAT observation of the transient X-ray source 4U 154.3-47 are presented. The source was observed in August 1983, during a high state, following a Tenma alert that the source was again active. Results from the GSPC and the LE 1000 1/mm grating are presented. The spectrum is complex, but in the 2-10 keV energy range can be well described by a Comptonised thermal distribution. Extrapolating the same model into the lower energy band of the grating requires an absorption column density equivalent to 2x1021 H cm2. A marked under-abundance of Oxygen and overabundance of Nitrogen, along with a strong, unidentified line feature at 9.8 A, are necessary to model the grating data.

The X-ray emission from Algol is thought to originate in a corona associated with the K star in this system. We report the results of a 35 hr continuous EXOSAT observation through secondary optical eclipse that was designed to measure the structure of the corona. No obvious X-ray eclipse was seen. The spectrum measured by the ME gives a temperature of 2.5x107 K, consistent with the hard component previously seen by the Einstein SSS. The soft component previously reported by the SSS would only contribute at most 25% to the count rate seen in the LE (used with Al/P). The lack of a hard X-ray eclipse indicates the dimensions of the higher temperature emission region to be comparable to or greater than the size of the K star. An X-ray flare was detected with a peak luminosity of 1.4x1031 erg s-1 and a total duration of 8 hours. The peak temperature was 5.0 keV with an emission measure of 9.4x1053 cm-3. The thermal nature of the flare is confirmed by the detection of an iron line with an EW of ~ 2 keV. By equating the observed decay time of the flare to a known cooling law gives a dimension for the flaring loop of ~ 0.3 stellar radii. This is much smaller than the dimensions of the hard component inferred from the lack of an eclipse. It seems probable that the flare occurred in one of the loops responsible for the lower temperature component seen by the SSS.

HEAO 1 observations of the spectrum of the supernova remnant IC 443 in the energy range of 0.4-3 keV reveal the presence of a complex structure suggestive of emission from Fe XVIII-XX, S XV-XVI, and Si XIII-XIV ions. The best electron temperature in the band for simple model fits is about (6-11) x 10 to the 6th K. Raymond and Smith collisional equilibrium emission models do not adequately fit the data. These results are discussed in terms of possible nonequilibrium effects in the remnant.

The Einstein Observatory's imaging proportional counter has detected 150-eV soft X-ray radiation from the four hot DA white dwarfs EG 187, Gr 288 and 289, and LB 1663. The observed pulse height spectra suggest that the emission is generated by hot photospheres whose T(eff) lie in the 30,000-60,000 K range. The IUE spacecraft UV spectra and H-beta line profiles for the four stars have been fitted, along with the X-ray fluxes, with a grid of hot, high gravity, homogeneous model atmospheres of mixed H-He composition. In all cases, the data require the presence of some X-ray opacity in the photosphere. Attention is given to the implications of this result in the context of white dwarf surface layer diffusion theories. Also noted are the limits imposed on the hot white dwarf population by the Einstein Medium Sensitivity Survey.

The paper reports the detection of two X-ray flares from each of the nearby dMe stars, AT Mic and AD Leo, with the A-2 experiment on board HEAO 1. A spectrum obtained during the brighter AT Mic flare, the first X-ray spectrum of a stellar flare, is well matched by a thermal model with a temperature 3 x 10 to the 7 K and an iron K-alpha emission line. The X-ray luminosities derived are in the range 1.3-16 x 10 to the 30th ergs/s, while emission measures are in the range 1.1-14 x 10 to the 53rd/cu cm. The estimated Lx/Lopt ratios exceed unity and are inconsistent with Mullan's flare model. Several scenarios to explain this discrepancy are proposed.

The X-ray transient 4U 1543 - 47 was observed in August 1983 by the Exosat observatory near the maximum of an outburst. The X-ray spectrum was measured using a gas scintillation proportional counter (GSPC) and a transmission grating spectrometer (TGS). A broad (FWHM about 2.7 keV) line at 5.9 keV is detected in the GSPC, which is interpreted as a redshifted and broadened iron K-alpha line. The line broadening and redshift may arise from either Compton scattering in a cool plasma with small optical depth and/or from Droppler and relativistic effects in the vicinity of compact object. The spectrum below 2 keV, obtained with the TGS, shows evidence for a broad emission feature at 0.74 keV, which may be an iron L-transition complex. However, such an emission feature could be an artifact caused by an anomalously low interstellar absorption by neutral oxygen. The contimuum emission is extremely soft and is well described by an unsaturated Comptonized spectrum from very cool plasma (kT = 0.84 keV) with large scattering depth.