The Temperature Structure of a Stellar Atmosphere Heated by Soft X-Rays

In this paper we obtain an approximate expression for the temperature structure of a stellar atmosphere heated by an external flux of soft X-rays. Allowance is made for reradiation in both the soft X-ray and optical regions. As may be expected our results indicate that the temperature structure will be drastically changed from the grey T-T relation, particularly at low optical depths. The stronger lines should appear in emission with the possibility of a central absorption in certain circumstances. The present results are in general agreement with those of Strittmatter (1974).