Measurements of M-Shell Dielectronic Recombination for Active Galactic Nuclei

XMM-Newton and Chandra spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) shows a rich spectrum of X-ray absorption lines. These AGN observations have detected a broad unresolved transition array (UTA) between 15-17 A. This is attributed to inner shell photoexcitation of M-shell iron. Modeling these UTA features is currently limited by uncertainties in the low temperature DR data for M-shell iron. In order to resolve this issue and to provide reliable iron M-shell DR data for plasma modeling, we are carrying out a series of laboratory measurements using the heavy-ion Test Storage Ring (TSR) at the Max-Plank-Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany. Other commonly used laboratory methods for studying DR (e.g., electron beam ion traps [EBITs]) are unable to measure the relevant low energy DR resonances. Storage rings are currently the only laboratory method capable of studying low temperature DR. We are also providing our data to atomic theorist to benchmark their modern DR calculations. Our initial results indicate that state-of-the-art theory cannot reliably predict the needed low temperature M-shell DR rate coefficients. Here we will report our recent results for DR of Fe XIV and Fe XIII and plans for future work.

This work is supported part by NASA, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, and the German Research Council.