8.1.2. Plasma model in SPEX 3.0

8.1.2.1. The core of the plasma model

The old plasma code used by SPEX in version 2.0 and below is essentially the same plasma code as developed originally by Rolf Mewe and colleagues, with relatively minor updates to the atomic data (like wavelength improvements, corrections of a few typo’s, improvements for Fe XVII).

Its basis were pre-calculated and parametrized line emissivities for each spectral line, as a function of temperature, with for relevant lines empirical density corrections. For some transitions, like the He-like triplets, the calculations were rather complex and required several correction factors to account for the full density dependence.

In the new approach presented here, the basic plasma processes are evaluated for each individual level, and then the occupation numbers of the excited states are calculated for the full ion, solving a matrix equation. This has the great advantage that with the same effort a multitude of processes can be taken into account, including effects of photo-excitation and photo-ionisation. From the occupation numbers and the radiative transition probabilities it is then straightforward to calculate the emitted spectrum.

In order to keep the code fast and flexible, we have chosen for a procedure to parametrise all relevant processes, and using simple analytical formulae with a limited number of parameters for each process. This is beneficial both in terms of computation time and storage demands and formed the basis for the succes of Mewe’s original work.

The production of the relevant files is not yet complete, but in the first release of version 3.0 we incorporate the data for the H, He, and Li iso-electronic sequences, and some data for the other sequences, including the Fe-L ions. For an overview of what is in the code see Section Ions for which updated calculations are available below.

By default, the plasma code is the old version 2.0 code, but by giving the command “var calc new”, for the ions for which new data are available, the new code is used. This leads in principle to higher accuracy and many more spectral lines. A disadvantage is of course that the computations become somewhat slower. For spectral fitting, one could envision a procedure where in a first run the old code is used to get close to the best parameters, and then to refine using the new plasma core.

If you want to use the new plasma model, it is important to make sure the ionisation balance is the new u17 balance. This new balance has improved collisional ionisation rates and allows to calculate properly inner-shell transitions that are needed for the new calculations. See Urdampilleta et al. (2017) for details.

Finally, it is advised that the users have a look to the various ascii-output options that are available for the plasma models, allowing to get deeper insight into the physical process and parameters that are being used.

8.1.2.2. Ions for which updated calculations are available

Below we list for each iso-electronic sequence what data is available for the new plasma calculations. Each line corresponds to one ion, with ii, iz and jz corresponding to the iso-electronic sequence, nuclear charge and ionisation stage, respectively. Then for a number of process we list two quantities: N, the number of entries we have (e.g., number of energy levels or transition rates), and n_{\mathrm max} the maximum principal quantum number for wich we use data for that ion and process. Note that n_{\mathrm max} refers to the highest level included for a transition between two levels.

The processes incorporated and shown in the table are:

  1. levels – Energy levels

  2. Arad – Radiative transition probabilities (Einstein coefficients)

  3. Atwo – Two-photon processes

  4. El col – Electron collisional excitation

  5. Pr col – Proton collisional excitation

  6. Aug – Auger rates (auto-ionisation, needed for dielectronic recombination)

  7. CX – Charge exchange recombination

  8. RR – Radiative recombination

  9. II – Inner-shell processes (this is merely the number of quantum states after ionisation; the number of fluorescent lines will be larger)

8.1.2.3. Iso-electronic sequence: 1

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

1

1

1

256

16

325

16

1

2

31

16

1

2

0

0

1

1

19

16

0

0

1

2

2

256

16

325

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

0

0

19

16

0

0

1

3

3

256

16

325

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

0

0

19

16

0

0

1

4

4

256

16

326

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

1

3

19

16

0

0

1

5

5

256

16

327

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

1

4

19

16

0

0

1

6

6

284

20

431

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

7

7

19

16

0

0

1

7

7

284

20

436

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

8

6

19

16

0

0

1

8

8

284

20

438

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

11

9

19

16

0

0

1

9

9

256

16

335

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

11

8

19

16

0

0

1

10

10

284

20

444

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

15

8

19

16

0

0

1

11

11

256

16

337

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

18

10

19

16

0

0

1

12

12

284

20

446

20

1

2

15

18

1

2

0

0

21

10

19

16

0

0

1

13

13

256

16

339

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

24

11

19

16

0

0

1

14

14

284

20

451

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

29

12

19

16

0

0

1

15

15

256

16

345

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

29

13

19

16

0

0

1

16

16

284

20

456

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

32

14

19

16

0

0

1

17

17

256

16

351

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

35

14

19

16

0

0

1

18

18

284

20

461

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

39

15

19

16

0

0

1

19

19

256

16

355

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

41

15

19

16

0

0

1

20

20

284

20

467

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

42

15

19

16

0

0

1

21

21

256

16

359

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

42

15

19

16

0

0

1

22

22

284

20

470

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

43

15

19

16

0

0

1

23

23

256

16

362

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

43

15

19

16

0

0

1

24

24

284

20

473

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

44

15

19

16

0

0

1

25

25

256

16

364

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

37

15

19

16

0

0

1

26

26

284

20

476

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

44

15

19

16

0

0

1

27

27

256

16

367

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

44

15

19

16

0

0

1

28

28

284

20

479

20

1

2

15

17

1

2

0

0

44

15

19

16

0

0

1

29

29

256

16

371

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

44

15

19

16

0

0

1

30

30

256

16

401

16

1

2

13

10

1

2

0

0

44

15

19

16

0

0

8.1.2.4. Iso-electronic sequence: 2

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

2

2

1

511

16

794

16

1

2

3

6

1

2

0

0

0

0

10

8

0

0

2

3

2

558

16

878

16

1

2

5

7

1

2

11

3

0

0

10

8

2

2

2

4

3

558

16

892

16

1

2

27

7

1

2

11

3

0

0

10

8

2

2

2

5

4

558

16

903

16

1

2

27

7

1

2

11

3

1

2

10

8

2

2

2

6

5

678

16

1236

16

1

2

59

10

1

2

38

5

8

4

10

8

2

2

2

7

6

678

16

1251

16

1

2

59

10

1

2

38

5

12

7

10

8

2

2

2

8

7

678

16

1266

16

1

2

59

10

1

2

38

5

14

6

10

8

2

2

2

9

8

678

16

1229

16

1

2

56

7

1

2

38

5

2

5

10

8

2

2

2

10

9

678

16

1281

16

1

2

59

10

1

2

38

5

24

8

10

8

2

2

2

11

10

678

16

1261

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

28

9

10

8

2

2

2

12

11

678

16

1308

16

1

2

59

10

1

2

38

5

35

10

10

8

2

2

2

13

12

678

16

1300

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

42

10

10

8

2

2

2

14

13

678

16

1335

16

1

2

59

10

1

2

38

5

47

11

10

8

2

2

2

15

14

678

16

1329

16

1

2

56

7

1

2

38

5

0

0

10

8

2

2

2

16

15

678

16

1357

16

1

2

58

10

1

2

38

5

3

10

10

8

2

2

2

17

16

678

16

1344

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

3

10

10

8

2

2

2

18

17

678

16

1369

16

1

2

58

10

1

2

38

5

4

11

10

8

2

2

2

19

18

678

16

1355

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

4

11

10

8

2

2

2

20

19

678

16

1375

16

1

2

58

10

1

2

38

5

4

12

10

8

2

2

2

21

20

678

16

1359

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

4

12

10

8

2

2

2

22

21

678

16

1379

16

1

2

57

10

1

2

38

5

5

13

10

8

2

2

2

23

22

678

16

1362

16

1

2

54

7

1

2

38

5

4

12

10

8

2

2

2

24

23

678

16

1383

16

1

2

58

10

1

2

38

5

5

14

10

8

2

2

2

25

24

678

16

1363

16

1

2

53

7

1

2

38

5

5

14

10

8

2

2

2

26

25

678

16

1384

16

1

2

58

10

1

2

38

5

56

15

10

8

2

2

2

27

26

678

16

1362

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

5

14

10

8

2

2

2

28

27

678

16

1386

16

1

2

58

10

1

2

38

5

5

15

10

8

2

2

2

29

28

678

16

1367

16

1

2

55

7

1

2

38

5

6

16

10

8

2

2

2

30

29

678

16

1368

16

1

2

56

7

1

2

38

5

5

16

10

8

2

2

8.1.2.5. Iso-electronic sequence: 3

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

3

4

2

815

16

1978

16

0

0

10

5

0

0

56

3

0

0

5

8

1

2

3

5

3

815

16

1895

16

0

0

9

4

0

0

60

3

0

0

5

8

1

2

3

6

4

885

16

1368

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

232

5

1

2

5

8

1

2

3

7

5

885

16

1357

16

0

0

35

6

0

0

232

5

1

3

5

8

1

2

3

8

6

885

16

1373

16

0

0

35

5

0

0

232

5

1

2

5

8

1

2

3

9

7

271

16

349

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

1

4

5

8

1

2

3

10

8

885

16

1389

16

0

0

35

5

0

0

232

5

1

4

5

8

1

2

3

11

9

271

16

352

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

1

5

5

8

1

2

3

12

10

885

16

1414

16

0

0

35

5

0

0

232

5

1

5

5

8

1

2

3

13

11

271

16

357

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

2

8

5

8

1

2

3

14

12

885

16

1452

16

0

0

35

5

0

0

232

5

2

8

5

8

1

2

3

15

13

271

16

360

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

2

8

5

8

1

2

3

16

14

885

16

1462

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

2

8

5

8

1

2

3

17

15

271

16

365

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

2

9

5

8

1

2

3

18

16

885

16

1461

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

2

9

5

8

1

2

3

19

17

271

16

371

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

2

9

5

8

1

2

3

20

18

885

16

1458

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

2

9

5

8

1

2

3

21

19

271

16

375

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

2

10

5

8

1

2

3

22

20

885

16

1452

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

2

10

5

8

1

2

3

23

21

271

16

379

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

3

13

5

8

1

2

3

24

22

885

16

1436

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

2

11

5

8

1

2

3

25

23

271

16

382

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

3

14

5

8

1

2

3

26

24

2944

20

20560

20

0

0

43

5

0

0

1186

20

3

14

5

8

1

2

3

27

25

271

16

385

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

3

14

5

8

1

2

3

28

26

885

16

1408

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

3

14

5

8

1

2

3

29

27

271

16

387

16

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

0

3

15

5

8

1

2

3

30

28

885

16

1410

16

0

0

34

5

0

0

234

5

3

15

5

8

1

2

8.1.2.6. Iso-electronic sequence: 4

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

4

6

3

753

16

1386

16

0

0

74

6

0

0

48

5

0

0

10

8

8

2

4

7

4

778

16

1696

16

0

0

101

6

0

0

48

5

1

2

10

8

8

2

4

8

5

727

16

1121

16

0

0

79

6

0

0

48

5

3

7

10

8

8

2

4

9

6

578

16

953

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

2

5

10

8

4

2

4

10

7

753

16

1352

16

0

0

76

5

0

0

48

5

2

5

10

8

8

2

4

11

8

578

16

978

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

2

5

10

8

4

2

4

12

9

753

16

1456

16

0

0

77

5

0

0

48

5

2

5

10

8

8

2

4

13

10

578

16

1012

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

2

5

10

8

4

2

4

14

11

753

16

1491

16

0

0

76

5

0

0

48

5

3

8

10

8

8

2

4

15

12

578

16

1044

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

3

8

10

8

4

2

4

16

13

753

16

1540

16

0

0

77

5

0

0

48

5

3

9

10

8

8

2

4

17

14

578

16

1073

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

3

9

10

8

4

2

4

18

15

753

16

1543

16

0

0

76

5

0

0

48

5

3

10

10

8

8

2

4

19

16

577

16

1102

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

3

10

10

8

4

2

4

20

17

753

16

1563

16

0

0

76

5

0

0

48

5

4

11

10

8

8

2

4

21

18

578

16

1130

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

4

11

10

8

4

2

4

22

19

753

16

1577

16

0

0

76

5

0

0

48

5

4

12

10

8

8

2

4

23

20

578

16

1151

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

4

12

10

8

4

2

4

24

21

753

16

1584

16

0

0

76

5

0

0

48

5

5

13

10

8

8

2

4

25

22

578

16

1164

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

4

12

10

8

4

2

4

26

23

1191

16

3929

16

0

0

115

7

1

2

342

7

5

14

10

8

8

2

4

27

24

578

16

1175

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

5

14

10

8

4

2

4

28

25

753

16

1597

16

0

0

75

5

0

0

46

5

5

14

10

8

8

2

4

29

26

578

16

1185

16

0

0

14

3

0

0

0

0

5

14

10

8

4

2

4

30

27

753

16

1599

16

0

0

74

5

0

0

48

5

5

15

10

8

8

2

8.1.2.7. Iso-electronic sequence: 5

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

5

6

2

719

16

1844

16

0

0

20

5

0

0

249

5

0

0

5

8

16

2

5

7

3

973

16

2162

16

0

0

50

5

0

0

249

5

0

0

5

8

16

2

5

8

4

973

16

2228

16

0

0

46

5

0

0

249

5

1

2

5

8

16

2

5

9

5

744

16

1661

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

1

3

5

8

8

2

5

10

6

973

16

2258

16

0

0

24

5

0

0

249

5

1

3

5

8

16

2

5

11

7

744

16

1697

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

1

4

5

8

8

2

5

12

8

973

16

2222

16

0

0

25

5

0

0

249

5

1

4

5

8

16

2

5

13

9

744

16

1610

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

1

5

5

8

8

2

5

14

10

972

16

2238

16

0

0

23

5

0

0

249

5

1

5

5

7

16

2

5

15

11

744

16

1713

16

0

0

35

5

0

0

0

0

2

8

5

7

8

2

5

16

12

973

16

2277

16

0

0

25

5

0

0

249

5

2

8

5

7

16

2

5

17

13

744

16

1717

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

2

8

5

7

8

2

5

18

14

973

16

2262

16

0

0

23

5

0

0

249

5

2

8

5

7

16

2

5

19

15

744

16

1659

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

2

9

5

7

8

2

5

20

16

973

16

2228

16

0

0

25

5

0

0

249

5

2

9

5

7

16

2

5

21

17

744

16

1671

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

2

9

5

7

8

2

5

22

18

973

16

2244

16

0

0

24

5

0

0

249

5

2

9

5

7

16

2

5

23

19

744

16

1672

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

2

10

5

7

8

2

5

24

20

973

16

2211

16

0

0

24

5

0

0

249

5

2

10

5

7

16

2

5

25

21

972

16

1806

16

0

0

49

5

0

0

248

5

3

13

5

7

15

2

5

26

22

2034

16

11210

7

0

0

176

6

0

0

3212

7

2

11

5

7

16

2

5

27

23

973

16

1796

16

0

0

49

5

0

0

249

5

3

14

5

7

16

2

5

28

24

973

16

2170

16

0

0

23

5

0

0

249

5

3

14

5

7

16

2

5

29

25

744

16

1621

16

0

0

36

5

0

0

0

0

3

14

5

7

8

2

5

30

26

973

16

2136

16

0

0

49

5

0

0

249

5

3

14

5

7

16

2

8.1.2.8. Iso-electronic sequence: 6

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

6

6

1

1230

7

2395

5

0

0

163

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

6

0

0

6

7

2

1223

6

2412

5

0

0

193

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

4

5

20

2

6

8

3

1218

5

2429

5

0

0

201

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

10

5

1218

5

2428

5

0

0

203

5

0

0

1228

5

3

5

5

5

20

2

6

12

7

1218

5

2490

5

0

0

204

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

14

9

1218

5

2432

5

0

0

203

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

16

11

1218

5

2442

5

0

0

204

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

18

13

1218

5

2416

5

0

0

207

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

20

15

1218

5

2472

5

0

0

208

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

22

17

1218

5

2424

5

0

0

208

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

24

19

1218

5

2326

5

0

0

208

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

26

21

3098

7

19841

7

0

0

621

5

0

0

16980

7

0

0

9

7

20

2

6

28

23

1218

5

2265

5

0

0

208

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

6

30

25

1218

5

2238

5

0

0

208

5

0

0

1228

5

0

0

5

5

20

2

8.1.2.9. Iso-electronic sequence: 7

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

7

8

2

1706

10

7708

10

0

0

76

3

0

0

1690

4

0

0

5

8

16

2

7

10

4

2073

10

16329

10

0

0

34

3

0

0

2932

10

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

12

6

2073

10

15961

10

0

0

33

3

0

0

2432

10

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

14

8

2073

10

16480

10

0

0

32

3

0

0

2090

10

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

16

10

1798

10

7720

10

0

0

70

3

0

0

1880

4

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

18

12

1735

10

7244

10

0

0

72

3

0

0

1743

4

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

20

14

1712

10

7187

10

0

0

74

3

0

0

1698

4

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

22

16

1716

10

7448

10

0

0

79

3

0

0

1694

4

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

24

18

2073

10

15643

10

0

0

72

3

0

0

1692

4

0

0

3

5

16

2

7

26

20

3702

10

37884

10

0

0

658

10

0

0

4310

6

0

0

5

7

16

2

7

28

22

2073

10

15475

10

0

0

66

10

0

0

1692

4

0

0

3

5

16

2

8.1.2.10. Iso-electronic sequence: 8

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

8

12

5

554

4

1938

4

0

0

185

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

4

0

0

8

14

7

552

4

1988

4

0

0

184

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

4

0

0

8

16

9

554

4

2020

4

0

0

185

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

4

0

0

8

18

11

553

4

2056

4

0

0

184

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

4

0

0

8

20

13

554

4

2125

4

0

0

185

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

4

0

0

8

26

19

4217

10

25034

10

0

0

427

6

0

0

5858

6

0

0

17

8

0

0

8

28

21

2760

10

11582

10

0

0

157

5

0

0

1754

5

0

0

17

8

0

0

8.1.2.11. Iso-electronic sequence: 9

ii

iz

jz

levels

Arad

Atwo

El Col

Pr col

Aug

CX

RR

II

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

N

n(max)

9

12

4

500

5

1906

5

0

0

51

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

5

0

0

9

14

6

501

5

1938

5

0

0

52

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

5

0

0

9

16

8

501

5

1916

5

0

0

52

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

5

0

0

9

18

10

501

5

1912

5

0

0

52

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

5

0

0

9

20

12

662

6

1754

6

0

0

117

6

0

0

270

4

0

0

10

6

0

0