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We present a study of spectral line width measurements from the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on {\it Hinode}. We used spectral line profiles of Fe {\sc xvi} 262.984 {\AA}, Fe {\sc xiv} 264.787 {\AA}, Fe {\sc xiv} 270.519 {\AA}, Fe {\sc xiv} 274.203 {\AA}, and Fe {\sc xv} 284.160 {\AA}, and studied 11 active regions. Previous studies of spectral line widths have shown that in hot loops in the cores of active regions, the observed non-thermal velocities are smaller than predicted from models of reconnection jets in the corona or shock heating associated with Alfv\'{e}n waves. The observed line widths are also inconsistent with models of chromospheric evaporation due to coronal nanoflares. We show that recent advances in higher resolution Alfv\'{e}n wave turbulence modeling enables us to obtain non-thermal velocities similar to those measured in active regions. The observed non-thermal velocities for the 11 active regions in our study are in the range of 17$-$30 $\rm km ~ s^{-1}$, consistent with the spectral line non-thermal widths predicted from our model of 16 interacting flux tubes, which are in the range of ~15$-$37 $\rm km ~ s^{-1}$.

The $^{12}{\rm C}(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}$O reaction, determining the survival of carbon in red giants, is of interest for nuclear reaction theory and nuclear astrophysics. A specific feature of the $^{16}$O nuclear structure is the presence of two subthreshold bound states, (6.92 MeV, 2$^+$) and (7.12 MeV, 1$^-$), that dominate the behavior of the low-energy $S$-factor. The strength of these subthreshold states is determined by their asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs), which need to be known with high accuracy. Recently, using a model-independent extrapolation method, Blokhintsev {\it et al.} [Eur. Phys. J. A {\bf 59} (2023) 162] determined the ANCs for the $\alpha$-particle removal taking into account three subthreshold states in $^{16}$O. The goal of this paper is to address four main problems elucidating the impact of the subthreshold ANCs on the low-energy $S$-factor. Firstly, we analyse the connection between variations of the subthreshold ANCs and the low-energy $S$-factor, in particular, at the most effective energy of $300$ keV. Secondly, we calculate contributions to the $S(300\,{\rm keV})$-factor from the subthreshold $1^{-}$ and $2^{+}$ resonances, that are controlled by the subthreshold ANCs. We also evaluate the contribution of the uncertainties of the subthreshold ANCs to the budget of the low-energy $S$-factor uncertainty, especially, the $S(300\,{\rm keV})$-factor. Thirdly, we analyse interference of the subthreshold resonances (SRs) with higher resonances and with the $E1$ and $E2$ direct captures to the ground state. Finally, we investigate a correlated effect of the subthreshold and ground-state ANCs on the low-energy $S$-factor and, in particular, on the $S(300\,{\rm keV})$-factor.

Asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANC) determine the overall normalization of cross sections of peripheral radiative capture reactions. In a recent paper [Blokhintsev et al., Eur. Phys. J. A 58, 257 (2022)], we considered the ANC $C_0$ for the virtual decay $^{16}$O$(0^+; 6.05$ MeV)$\to \alpha+^{12}$C(g.s.). In the present paper, which can be regarded as a continuation of the previous, we treat the ANCs $C_l$ for the vertices $^{16}$O$(J^\pi)\to \alpha+^{12}$C(g.s.) corresponding to the other three bound excited states of $^{16}$O ($J^\pi=3^-$, $2^+$, $1^-$, $l=J$). ANCs $C_l$ ($l=3,\,2,\,1$) are found by analytic continuation in energy of the $\alpha^{12}$C $l$-wave partial scattering amplitudes, known from the phase-shift analysis of experimental data, to the pole corresponding to the $^{16}$O bound state and lying in the unphysical region of negative energies. To determine $C_l$, the scattering data are approximated by the sum of polynomials in energy in the physical region and then extrapolated to the pole. For a more reliable determination of the ANCs, various forms of functions expressed in terms of phase shifts were used in analytical approximation and subsequent extrapolation., Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2208.09587

Asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANC) determine the overall normalization of cross sections of peripheral radiative capture reactions. In the present paper, we treat the ANC $C$ for the virtual decay $^{16}$O$(0^+; 6.05$ MeV)$\to \alpha+^{12}$C(g.s.), the known values of which are characterized by a large spread $(0.29-1.65)\times 10^3$ fm$^{-1/2}$. The ANC $C$ is found by analytic continuation in the energy of the $\alpha^{12}$C $s$-wave scattering amplitude, known from the phase-shift analysis of experimental data, to the pole corresponding to the $^{16}$O bound state and lying in the unphysical region of negative energies. To determine $C$, two different methods of analytic continuation are used. In the first method, the scattering data are approximated by the sum of polynomials in energy in the physical region and then extrapolated to the pole. The best way of extrapolation is chosen on the basis of the exactly solvable model. Within the second approach, the ANC $C$ is found by solving the Schr\"odinger equation for the two-body $\alpha^{12}$C potential, the parameters of which are selected from the requirement of the best description of the phase-shift analysis data at a fixed experimental binding energy of $^{16}$O$(0^+; 6.05$ MeV) in the $\alpha+^{12}$C channel. The values of the ANC $C$ obtained within these two methods lie in the interval (886--1139) fm$^{-1/2}$., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1710.10767

A new method is proposed for extrapolation of elastic-scattering data to the negative-energy region for a short-range interaction. The method is based on the analytic approximation of the modulus-squared of the partial-wave scattering amplitude. It is shown that the proposed method has an advantage over the traditional one based on continuation of the effective-range function. The new method has been applied to determine the asymptotic normalization coefficients for the $^{17}$O and $^{13}$C nuclei in the $n+^{16}$O and $n+^{12}$C channels, respectively.

The problem of analytic continuation of the scattering data to the negative-energy region to obtain information on asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs) of bound states is discussed. It is shown that a recently suggested $\Delta$ method [O.L.Ram\'{\i}rez Su\'arez and J.-M. Sparenberg, Phys. Rev. C {\bf 96}, 034601 (2017)] is not strictly correct in the mathematical sense since it is not an analytic continuation of a partial-wave scattering amplitude to the region of negative energies. However, it can be used for practical purposes for sufficiently large charges and masses of colliding particles. Both the $\Delta$ method and the standard method of continuing of the effective range function are applied to the $p-^{16}$O system which is of interest for nuclear astrophysics. The ANCs for the ground $5/2^+$ and excited $1/2^+$ states of $^{17}$F are determined.

We discuss and briefly overview recent progress with studying fluctuations in scattering on a resonance state coupled to the background of many chaotic states. Such a problem arises naturally, e.g., when dealing with wave propagation in the presence of a complex environment. Using a statistical model based on random matrix theory, we obtain a number of nonperturbative results for various statistics of scattering characteristics. This includes the joint and marginal distributions of the reflection and transmission intensities and phases, which are derived exactly at arbitrary coupling to the background with finite absorption. The intensities and phases are found to exhibit highly non-trivial statistical correlations, which remain essential even in the limit of strong absorption. In the latter case, we also consider the relevant approximations and their accuracy. As an application, we briefly discuss the statistics of the phase rigidity (or mode complexness) in such a scattering situation., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures (in the Proceedings of 8th Workshop on Quantum Chaos and Localisation Phenomena, Warsaw, Poland: May 19-21, 2017)

A problem of analytical continuation of scattering data to the negative-energy region to obtain information about bound states is discussed within an exactly solvable potential model. This work is continuation of the previous one by the same authors [L. D. Blokhintsev et al., Phys. Rev. C 95, 044618 (2017)]. The goal of this paper is to determine the most effective way of analytic continuation for different systems. The $d+\alpha$ and $\alpha +^{12}$C systems are considered and, for comparison, an effective-range function approach and a recently suggested $\Delta$-method [O. L. Ram\'{\i}rez Su\'arez and J.-M. Sparenberg, Phys. Rev. C 96, 034601 (2017)] are applied. We conclude that the $\Delta$-method is more effective for heavier systems with large values of the Coulomb parameter, whereas for light systems with small values of the Coulomb parameter the effective-range function method might be preferable.

Explicit analytic expressions are derived for the effective-range function for the case when the interaction is represented by a sum of the short-range square-well and long-range Coulomb potentials. These expressions are then transformed into forms convenient for extrapolating to the negative-energy region and obtaining the information about bound-state properties. Alternative ways of extrapolation are discussed. Analytic properties of separate terms entering these expressions for the effective-range function and the partial-wave scattering amplitude are investigated.

We have incorporated our experimentally derived thermal rate coefficients for C + H$_3^+$ forming CH$^+$ and CH$_2^+$ into a commonly used astrochemical model. We find that the Arrhenius-Kooij equation typically used in chemical models does not accurately fit our data and use instead a more versatile fitting formula. At a temperature of 10 K and a density of 10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$, we find no significant differences in the predicted chemical abundances, but at higher temperatures of 50, 100, and 300 K we find up to factor of 2 changes. Additionally, we find that the relatively small error on our thermal rate coefficients, $\sim15\%$, significantly reduces the uncertainties on the predicted abundances compared to those obtained using the currently implemented Langevin rate coefficient with its estimated factor of 2 uncertainty., Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ

The behaviour of the 2D model system - the Ikeda map - is investigated in the weakly dissipative regime under external forcing on the incommensurate frequency. Coexistence of a large number of stable invariant curves is shown. Dependence of the number of coexisting attractors on the external forcing amplitude and nonlinearity parameter is investigated., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

We report measured rate coefficients for electron-ion recombination for Si10+ forming Si9+ and for Si9+ forming Si8+, respectively. The measurements were performed using the electron-ion merged-beams technique at a heavy-ion storage ring. Electron-ion collision energies ranged from 0 to 50 eV for Si9+ and from 0 to 2000 eV for Si10+, thus, extending previous measurements for Si10+ [Orban et al. 2010, Astrophys. J. 721, 1603] to much higher energies. Experimentally derived rate coefficients for the recombination of Si9+ and Si10+ ions in a plasma are presented along with simple parameterizations. These rate coefficients are useful for the modeling of the charge balance of silicon in photoionized plasmas (Si9+ and Si10+) and in collisionally ionized plasmas (Si10+ only). In the corresponding temperature ranges, the experimentally derived rate coefficients agree with the latest corresponding theoretical results within the experimental uncertainties., Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, 66 references, submitted to the J. Phys. B special issue on atomic and molecular data for astrophysicists

We demonstrate the use of high power diode laser stacks to photodetach fast hydrogen and carbon anions and produce ground term neutral atomic beams. We achieve photodetachment efficiencies of $\sim$7.4\% for H$^-$ at a beam energy of 10\,keV and $\sim$3.7\% for C$^-$ at 28\,keV. The diode laser systems used here operate at 975\,nm and 808\,nm, respectively, and provide high continuous power levels of up to 2\,kW, without the need of additional enhancements like optical cavities. The alignment of the beams is straightforward and operation at constant power levels is very stable, while maintenance is minimal. We present a dedicated photodetachment setup that is suitable to efficiently neutralize the majority of stable negative ions in the periodic table.

We have measured the reaction of O + H3+ forming OH+ and H2O+. This is one of the key gas-phase astrochemical processes initiating the formation of water molecules in dense molecular clouds. For this work, we have used a novel merged fast-beams apparatus which overlaps a beam of H3+ onto a beam of ground-term neutral O. Here, we present cross section data for forming OH+ and H2O+ at relative energies from \approx 3.5 meV to \approx 15.5 and 0.13 eV, respectively. Measurements were performed for statistically populated O(3PJ) in the ground term reacting with hot H3+ (with an internal temperature of \approx 2500-3000 K). From these data, we have derived rate coefficients for translational temperatures from \approx 25 K to \approx 10^5 and 10^3 K, respectively. Using state-of-the-art theoretical methods as a guide, we have converted these results to a thermal rate coefficient for forming either OH+ or H2O+, thereby accounting for the temperature dependence of the O fine-structure levels. Our results are in good agreement with two independent flowing afterglow measurements at a temperature of \approx 300 K, and with a corresponding level of H3+ internal excitation. This good agreement strongly suggests that the internal excitation of the H3+ does not play a significant role in this reaction. The Langevin rate coefficient is in reasonable agreement with the experimental results at 10 K but a factor of \approx 2 larger at 300 K. The two published classical trajectory studies using quantum mechanical potential energy surfaces lie a factor of \approx 1.5 above our experimental results over this 10-300 K range., Comment: 43 pages, 11 figures. Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal

We have measured electron impact ionization (EII) for Fe 7+ from the ionization threshold up to 1200 eV. The measurements were performed using the TSR heavy ion storage ring. The ions were stored long enough prior to measurement to remove most metastables, resulting in a beam of 94% ground state ions. Comparing with the previously recommended atomic data, we find that the Arnaud & Raymond (1992) cross section is up to about 40\% larger than our measurement, with the largest discrepancies below about 400~eV. The cross section of Dere (2007) agrees to within 10%, which is about the magnitude of the experimental uncertainties. The remaining discrepancies between measurement and the most recent theory are likely due to shortcomings in the theoretical treatment of the excitation-autoionization contribution., Comment: Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal

We have systematically investigated the energy resolution of a magnetic micro-calorimeter (MMC) for atomic and molecular projectiles at impact energies ranging from $E\approx13$ to 150 keV. For atoms we obtained absolute energy resolutions down to $\Delta E \approx 120$ eV and relative energy resolutions down to $\Delta E/E\approx10^{-3}$. We also studied in detail the MMC energy-response function to molecular projectiles of up to mass 56 u. We have demonstrated the capability of identifying neutral fragmentation products of these molecules by calorimetric mass spectrometry. We have modeled the MMC energy-response function for molecular projectiles and conclude that backscattering is the dominant source of the energy spread at the impact energies investigated. We have successfully demonstrated the use of a detector absorber coating to suppress such spreads. We briefly outline the use of MMC detectors in experiments on gas-phase collision reactions with neutral products. Our findings are of general interest for mass spectrometric techniques, particularly for those desiring to make neutral-particle mass measurements.

Innershell ionization of a $1s$ electron by either photons or electrons is important for X-ray photoionized objects such as active galactic nuclei and electron-ionized sources such as supernova remnants. Modeling and interpreting observations of such objects requires accurate predictions for the charge state distribution (CSD) which results as the $1s$-hole system stabilizes. Due to the complexity of the complete stabilization process, few modern calculations exist and the community currently relies on 40-year-old atomic data. Here, we present a combined experimental and theoretical study for innershell photoionization of neutral atomic nitrogen for photon energies of $403-475$~eV. Results are reported for the total ion yield cross section, for the branching ratios for formation of N$^+$, N$^{2+}$, and N$^{3+}$, and for the average charge state. We find significant differences when comparing to the data currently available to the astrophysics community. For example, while the branching ratio to N$^{2+}$ is somewhat reduced, that for N$^+$ is greatly increased, and that to N$^{3+}$, which was predicted not to be zero, grows to $\approx 10\%$ at the higher photon energies studied. This work demonstrates some of the shortcomings in the theoretical CSD data base for innershell ionization and points the way for the improvements needed to more reliably model the role of innershell ionization of cosmic plasmas., Comment: Submitted to The Astrophysical Journal, 19 pages, 2 tables, and 3 figures

We present new experimentally measured and theoretically calculated rate coefficients for the electron-ion recombination of W$^{18+}$([Kr] $4d^{10}$ $4f^{10}$) forming W$^{17+}$. At low electron-ion collision energies, the merged-beam rate coefficient is dominated by strong, mutually overlapping, recombination resonances. In the temperature range where the fractional abundance of W$^{18+}$ is expected to peak in a fusion plasma, the experimentally derived Maxwellian recombination rate coefficient is 5 to 10 times larger than that which is currently recommended for plasma modeling. The complexity of the atomic structure of the open-$4f$-system under study makes the theoretical calculations extremely demanding. Nevertheless, the results of new Breit-Wigner partitioned dielectronic recombination calculations agree reasonably well with the experimental findings. This also gives confidence in the ability of the theory to generate sufficiently accurate atomic data for the plasma modeling of other complex ions., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, 40 references, accepted for publication in Physical Review A

The change of resonance widths in an open system under a perturbation of its interior has been recently introduced by Fyodorov and Savin [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 184101 (2012)] as a sensitive indicator of the nonorthogonality of resonance states. We experimentally study universal statistics of this quantity in weakly open two-dimensional microwave cavities and reverberation chambers realizing scalar and electromagnetic vector fields, respectively. We consider global as well as local perturbations, and also extend the theory to treat the latter case. The influence of the perturbation type on the width shift distribution is more pronounced for many-channel systems. We compare the theory to experimental results for one and two attached antennas and to numerical simulations with higher channel numbers, observing a good agreement in all cases., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We have investigated the chemistry of ${\rm C + H_3^+}$ forming CH$^+$, CH$_2^+$, and CH$_3^+$. These reactions are believed to be some of the key gas-phase astrochemical processes initiating the formation of organic molecules in molecular clouds. For this work we have constructed a novel merged fast-beams apparatus which overlaps a beam of molecular ions onto a beam of ground-term neutral atoms. Here we present cross section data for forming CH$^+$ and CH$_2^+$ at collision energies from $\approx 9$ meV to $\approx20$ and 3 eV, respectively. Using these data we have derived thermal rate coefficients for reaction temperatures from $\approx72$ K to $\approx2.3 \times 10^5$ and $3.4 \times 10^4$ K, respectively. For the formation of CH$_3^+$ we are able only to put an upper limit on the rate coefficient. Our results for CH$^+$ and CH$_2^+$ are in good agreement with the mass-scaled results from a previous ion trap study of ${\rm C + D_3^+}$ at a reaction temperature of $\sim 1000$ K. At molecular cloud temperatures our thermal rate coefficient for forming CH$^+$ lies a factor of $\sim 2-4$ below the Langevin rate coefficient currently given in astrochemical databases and below the published semi-classical calculations. Our results for CH$_2^+$ formation are a factor of $\sim 26$ above the semi-classical results. Astrochemical databases do not currently include this channel., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement

We have investigated dissociative recombination (DR) of NH$^+$ with electrons using a merged beams configuration at the TSR heavy-ion storage ring located at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany. We present our measured absolute merged beams recombination rate coefficient for collision energies from 0 to 12 eV. From these data we have extracted a cross section which we have transformed to a plasma rate coefficient for the collisional plasma temperature range from $T_{\rm pl} = 10$ to $18000$ K. We show that the NH$^+$ DR rate coefficient data in current astrochemical models are underestimated by up to a factor of $\sim 9$. Our new data will result in predicted NH$^+$ abundances lower than calculated by present models. This is in agreement with the sensitivity limits of all observations attempting to detect NH$^+$ in interstellar clouds., Comment: July 1st 2014: Accepted for publication in ApJ

Rate coefficients for photorecombination (PR) and cross sections for electron-impact ionization (EII) of Fe$^{14+}$ forming Fe$^{13+}$ and Fe$^{15+}$, respectively, have been measured by employing the electron-ion merged-beams technique at a heavy-ion storage ring. Rate coefficients for PR and EII of Fe$^{14+}$ ions in a plasma are derived from the experimental measurements. Simple parametrizations of the experimentally derived plasma rate coefficients are provided for use in the modeling of photoionized and collisionally ionized plasmas. In the temperature ranges where Fe$^{14+}$ is expected to form in such plasmas the latest theoretical rate coefficients of Altun et al. [Astron. Astrophys. 474, 1051 (2007)] for PR and of Dere [Astron. Astrophys. 466, 771 (2007)] for EII agree with the experimental results to within the experimental uncertainties. Common features in the PR and EII resonance structures are identified and discussed., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, submitted for publication to Physical Review A

Recently, it has been shown that the change of resonance widths in an open system under a perturbation of its interior is a sensitive indicator of the nonorthogonality of resonance states. We apply this measure to quantify parametric motion of the resonances. In particular, a strong redistribution of the widths is linked with the maximal degree of nonorthogonality. Then for weakly open chaotic systems we discuss the effect of spectral rigidity on the statistical properties of the parametric width shifts, and derive the distribution of the latter in a picket-fence model with equidistant spectrum., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures (references updated and typos fixed, published version)

We have measured dissociative recombination of HCl+ with electrons using a merged beams configuration at the heavy-ion storage ring TSR located at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany. We present the measured absolute merged beams recombination rate coefficient for collision energies from 0 to 4.5 eV. We have also developed a new method for deriving the cross section from the measurements. Our approach does not suffer from approximations made by previously used methods. The cross section was transformed to a plasma rate coefficient for the electron temperature range from T=10 to 5000 K. We show that the previously used HCl+ DR data underestimate the plasma rate coefficient by a factor of 1.5 at T=10 K and overestimate it by a factor of 3.0 at T=300 K. We also find that the new data may partly explain existing discrepancies between observed abundances of chlorine-bearing molecules and their astrochemical models., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ (July 7, 2013)

We report measurements of electron impact ionization (EII) for Fe^13+, Fe^16+, and Fe^17+ over collision energies from below threshold to above 3000 eV. The ions were recirculated using an ion storage ring. Data were collected after a sufficiently long time that essentially all the ions had relaxed radiatively to their ground state before data were collected. For single ionization of $\fethirteen$ we find that previous single pass experiments are more than 40% larger than our results. Compared to our work, the theoretical cross section recommended by Arnaud & Raymond (1992) is more than 30% larger, while that of Dere (2007) is about 20% greater. Much of the discrepancy with Dere (2007) is due to the theory overestimating the contribution of excitation-autoionization via n=2 excitations. Double ionization of Fe^13+ is dominated by direct ionization of an inner shell electron accompanied by autoionization of a second electron. Our results for single ionization of Fe^16+ and Fe^17+ agree with theoretical calculations to within the experimental uncertainties., Comment: Accepted for the Astrophysical Journal

The dynamics of the web map with weak linear dissipation is studied. The evolution of the coexisting attractors and the structure of their basins while changing the dissipation and nonlinearity are revealed. It is shown that the structure of the basins remains the same when the dissipation and nonlinearity changes simultaneously.

We study the dynamics of two conservatively coupled H\'enon maps at different levels of dissipation. It is shown that the decrease of dissipation leads to changes in the parameter plane structure and scenarios of transition to chaos comparing with the case of infinitely strong dissipation. Particularly, the Feigenbaum line becomes divided into several fragments. Some of these fragments have critical points of different types, namely of C and H type, as their terminal points. Also the mechanisms of formation of these Feigenbaum line ruptures are described., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

We present a new diagnostic allowing one to measure the anisotropy of ion temperatures and non-thermal velocities as well as Doppler shifts with respect to the ambient magnetic field. This method provides new results, as well as independent test for previous measurements obtained with other techniques. Our spectral data come from observations of a low latitude, on-disk coronal hole. A potential field source surface model was used to calculate the angle between the magnetic field lines and the line of sight for each spatial bin of the observation. A fit was performed to determine the line widths and Doppler shifts parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field. For each line width component we derived parallel and perpendicular ion temperatures and non-thermal velocities. The perpendicular ion temperature was cooler than off-limb polar coronal hole measurements. The parallel ion temperature was consistent with a uniform temperature of 1.8 +/- 0.2 x 10^{6} K for each ion. Since parallel ion heating is expected to be weak, this ion temperature should reflect the proton temperature. A comparison between our results and others implies a large proton temperature gradient around 1.02 R_sun. The non-thermal velocities are thought to be proportional to the amplitudes of various waves. Our results for the perpendicular non-thermal velocity agree with Alfv\'en wave amplitudes inferred from off-limb polar coronal hole line width measurements. Our parallel non-thermal velocity results are consistent with slow magnetosonic wave amplitudes inferred from Fourier analysis of time varying intensity fluctuations. Doppler shift measurements yield outflows of ~5 km s^-1 for ions formed over a broad temperature range. This differs from other studies which found a strong Doppler shift dependence on formation temperature., Comment: Accepted for The Astrophysical Journal

We have measured electron-ion recombination for Fe XII forming Fe XI using a merged beams configuration at the heavy-ion storage ring TSR located at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany. The measured merged beams recombination rate coefficient (MBRRC) for collision energies from 0 to 1500 eV is presented. This work uses a new method for determining the absolute MBRRC based on a comparison of the ion beam decay rate with and without the electron beam on. For energies below 75 eV, the spectrum is dominated by dielectronic recombination (DR) resonances associated with 3s-3p and 3p-3d core excitations. At higher energies we observe contributions from 3-N' and 2-N' core excitations DR. We compare our experimental results to state-of-the-art multi-configuration Breit-Pauli (MCBP) calculations and find significant differences, both in resonance energies and strengths. We have extracted the DR contributions from the measured MBRRC data and transformed them into a plasma recombination rate coefficient (PRRC) for temperatures in the range of 10^3 to 10^7 K. We show that the previously recommended DR data for Fe XII significantly underestimate the PRRC at temperatures relevant for both photoionized plasmas (PPs) and collisionaly ionized plasmas (CPs). This is to be contrasted with our MCBP PRRC results which agree with the experiment to within 30% at PP temperatures and even better at CP temperatures. We find this agreement despite the disagreement shown by the detailed comparison between our MCBP and experimental MBRRC results. Lastly, we present a simple parameterized form of the experimentally derived PRRC for easy use in astrophysical modelling codes., Comment: April 24, 2012: accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

We consider an open (scattering) quantum system under the action of a perturbation of its closed counterpart. It is demonstrated that the resulting shift of resonance widths is a sensitive indicator of the non-orthogonality of resonance wavefunctions, being zero only if those were orthogonal. Focusing further on chaotic systems, we employ random matrix theory to introduce a new type of parametric statistics in open systems, and derive the distribution of the resonance width shifts in the regime of weak coupling to the continuum., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure (published version with minor changes)