We report energy levels, radiative rates (A-values) and lifetimes for the astrophysically-important Be-like ion C III. For the calculations, 166 levels belonging to the $n \le$ 5 configurations are considered and the {\sc grasp} (General-purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package) is adopted. Einstein A-coefficients are provided for all E1, E2, M1 and M2 transitions, while lifetimes are compared with available measurements as well as theoretical results, and no large discrepancies noted. Our energy levels are assessed to be accurate to better than 1\% for a majority of levels, and A-values to better than 20\% for most transitions. Collision strengths are also calculated, for which the Dirac Atomic R-matrix Code ({\sc darc}) is used. A wide energy range, up to 21 Ryd, is considered and resonances resolved in a fine energy mesh in the thresholds region. The collision strengths are subsequently averaged over a Maxwellian velocity distribution to determine effective collision strengths up to a temperature of 8.0$\times$10$^5$ K, sufficient for most astrophysical applications. Our data are compared with the recent $R$-matrix calculations of Fern{á}ndez-Menchero, Del Zanna \& Badnell [A\&A 566 (2014) A104], and significant differences (up to over an order of magnitude) are noted for several transitions over the complete temperature range of the results.
Results for energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation (effective) collision strengths for transitions in Be-like Cl XIV, K XVI and Ge XXIX are reported. For the calculations of energy levels and radiative rates the General-purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package ({\sc grasp}) is adopted, while for determining the collision strengths and subsequently the excitation rates, the Dirac Atomic R-matrix Code ({\sc darc}) is used. Oscillator strengths, radiative rates and line strengths are listed for all E1, E2, M1 and M2 transitions among the lowest 98 levels of the $n \le$…
Efficient numerical approximation of the polarized radiative transfer equation is challenging because this system of ordinary differential equations exhibits stiff behavior, which potentially results in numerical instability. This negatively impacts the accuracy of formal solvers, and small step-sizes are often necessary to retrieve physical solutions. This work presents stability analyses of formal solvers for the radiative transfer equation of polarized light, identifies instability issues, and suggests practical remedies. In particular, the assumptions and the limitations of the stability a…
Energies and lifetimes are reported for the lowest 136 levels of Fe XIV, belonging to the (1s$^2$2s$^2$2p$^6$) 3s$^2$3p, 3s3p$^2$, 3s$^2$3d, 3p$^3$, 3s3p3d, 3p$^2$3d, 3s3d$^2$, 3p3d$^2$ and 3s$^24\ell$ configurations. Additionally, radiative rates, oscillator strengths and line strengths are calculated for all electric dipole (E1), magnetic dipole (M1), electric quadrupole (E2) and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions. Theoretical lifetimes determined from these radiative rates for most levels show satisfactory agreement with earlier calculations, as well as with measurements. Electron impact …
We present effective collision strengths for electron excitation and de-excitation of the ten forbidden transitions between the five lowest energy levels of the astronomically abundant doubly-ionised oxygen ion, O^{2+}. The raw collision strength data were obtained from an R-matrix intermediate coupling calculation using the Breit-Pauli relativistic approximation published previously by the authors. The effective collision strengths were calculated with kappa-distributed electron energies and are tabulated as a function of the electron temperature and kappa.
Tayal and Zatsarinny [Astrophys. J. 850 (2017) 147] have reported results for energy levels, radiative rates (A-values), lifetimes, and effective collision strengths ($Υ$) for transitions among 202 levels of C-like O~III. For the calculations they have adopted the multi-configuration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) code for the energy levels and A-values, and B-spline $R$-matrix (BSR) code for $Υ$. Their reported results cover a (much) larger range of levels/transitions than generally available in the literature, and appear to be accurate for energy levels and A-values. However, the magnitude and behaviou…
Energy levels and radiative rates (A-values) for four types of transitions (E1, E2, M1, and M2) are reported for an astrophysically important Mg-like ion Si~III, whose emission lines have been observed in a variety of plasmas. For the calculations, well-known and widely-used GRASP code has been adopted, and results are listed for transitions among the 141 levels of the 3$\ell3\ell'$ and 3$\ell$4$\ell$ configurations. Experimental energies are available for only the lowest 58 levels but there is no major discrepancy with theoretical results. Similarly, the A-values and lifetimes show a satisfac…
We report calculations of energy levels, radiative rates, collision strengths, and effective collision strengths for transitions among the lowest 25 levels of the n <= 5 configurations of He~II. The general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package (GRASP) and Dirac atomic R-matrix code (DARC) are adopted for the calculations. Radiative rates, oscillator strengths, and line strengths are reported for all electric dipole (E1), magnetic dipole (M1), electric quadrupole (E2), and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions among the 25 levels. Furthermore, collision strengths and effective collision…
We systematically investigated the heating of coronal loops on metal-free stars with various stellar masses and magnetic fields by magnetohydrodynamic simulations. It is found that the coronal property is dependent on the coronal magnetic field strength $B_{\rm c}$ because it affects the difference of the nonlinearity of the Alfvénic waves. Weaker $B_{\rm c}$ leads to cooler and less dense coronae because most of the input waves dissipate in the lower atmosphere on account of the larger nonlinearity. Accordingly EUV and X-ray luminosities also correlate with $B_{\rm c}$, while they are emitted…
Energy levels, radiative rates and lifetimes are calculated among the lowest 98 levels of the n <= 4 configurations of Be-like Al X. The GRASP (General-purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package) is adopted and data are provided for all E1, E2, M1 and M2 transitions. Similar data are also obtained with the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC) to assess the accuracy of the calculations. Based on comparisons between calculations with the two codes as well as with available measurements, our listed energy levels are assessed to be accurate to better than 0.3%. However, the accuracy for radiative rates a…
Radiation is an important contributor to the energetics of the interstellar medium, yet its transport is difficult to solve numerically. We present a novel approach towards solving radiative transfer of diffuse sources via backwards ray tracing. Here we focus on the radiative transfer of infrared radiation and the radiation pressure on dust. The new module, \textsc{TreeRay/RadPressure}, is an extension to the novel radiative transfer method \textsc{TreeRay} implemented in the grid-based MHD code {\sc Flash}. In \textsc{TreeRay/RadPressure}, every cell and every star particle is a source of inf…
We present Maxwellian-averaged effective collision strengths for the electron-impact excitation of S III over a wide range of electron temperatures of astrophysical importance, log T(K) = 3.0-6.0. The calculation incorporates 53 fine-structure levels arising from the six lowest configurations, giving rise to 1378 individual lines, and is undertaken using the recently developed RMATRX II plus FINE95 suite of codes. A detailed comparison is made with a previous R-matrix calculation and significant differences are found for some transitions. The atomic data are subsequently incorporated into the …
We have computed linear non-adiabatic oscillations of luminous red giants using a non-local and anisotropic time-dependent theory of convection. The results show that low-order radial modes can be self-excited. Their excitation is the result of radiation and the coupling between convection and oscillations. Turbulent pressure has important effects on the excitation of oscillations in red variables.
The Zombie Vortex Instability (ZVI) occurs in the dead zones of protoplanetary disks (PPDs) where perturbations excite baroclinic critical layers, generating "zombie" vortices and turbulence. In this work, we investigate ZVI with nonuniform vertical stratification; while ZVI is triggered in the stratified regions away from the midplane, the subsequent turbulence propagates into and fills the midplane. ZVI turbulence alters the background Keplerian shear flow, creating a steady-state zonal flow. Intermittency is observed, where the flow cycles through near-laminar phases of zonal flow punctuate…
We calculate the flux of internal gravity waves (IGWs) generated by turbulent convection in stars. We solve for the IGW eigenfunctions analytically near the radiative-convective interface in a local, Boussinesq, and cartesian domain. We consider both discontinuous and smooth transitions between the radiative and convective regions and derive Green's functions to solve for the IGWs in the radiative region. We find that if the radiative-convective transition is smooth, the IGW flux depends on the exact form of the buoyancy frequency near the interface. IGW excitation is most efficient for very s…
EUV imaging observations from several space missions (SOHO/EIT, TRACE, and SDO/AIA) have revealed a presence of propagating intensity disturbances in solar coronal loops. These disturbances are typically interpreted as slow magnetoacoustic waves. Recent spectroscopic observations with Hinode/EIS of active region loops, however, revealed that the propagating intensity disturbances are associated with intermittent plasma upflows (or jets) at the footpoints which are presumably generated by magnetic reconnection. For this reason, whether these disturbances are waves or periodic flows is still bei…
In a recent paper, Tayal et al. [{\em Astrophys. J. Suppl.} {\bf 2019}, {\emph 242}, 9] have reported results for energy levels, radiative rates (A-values) and effective collision strengths ($Υ$) for transitions among the 198 levels of Si-like S~III. For the calculations they have adopted the multi-configuration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) code for the energy levels and A-values, and B-spline $R$-matrix (BSR) code for $Υ$. Their reported results appear to be accurate for energy levels and A-values, but not for $Υ$. Through our independent calculations by adopting the flexible atomic code (FAC), we dem…
Context. It has been shown that convection in red supergiant stars gives rise to large granules causing surface inhomogeneities together with shock waves in the photosphere. The resulting motion of the photocenter (on time scales ranging from months to years) could possibly have adverse effects on the parallax determination with Gaia. Aims. We explore the impact of the granulation on the photocentric and photometric variability. We quantify these effects in order to better characterize the error possibly altering the parallax. Methods. We use 3D radiative-hydrodynamics simulations of convectio…
[Abridged] We develop and benchmark a fast and easy-to-use effective-opacity formalism for line and continuum radiative transfer in an accelerating two-component clumpy medium. The formalism bridges the limits of optically thin and thick clumps, and is here used to i) design a simple vorosity-modified Sobolev with exact integration (vmSEI) method for analyzing UV wind resonance lines in hot, massive stars, and ii) derive simple correction factors to the line force driving the outflows of such stars. We show that (for a given ionization factor) UV resonance doublets may be used to analytically …
Radiative feedback from massive Population III (Pop III) stars in the form of ionising and photodissociating photons is widely believed to play a central role in shutting off accretion onto these stars. Understanding whether and how this occurs is vital for predicting the final masses reached by these stars and the form of the Pop III stellar initial mass function. To help us better understand the impact of UV radiation from massive Pop III stars on the gas surrounding them, we carry out high resolution simulations of the formation and early evolution of these stars, using the AREPO moving-mes…
Non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects in diagnostically important solar Fe I lines are important due to the strong sensitivity of Fe I to ionizing UV radiation, which may lead to a considerable under-population of the Fe I levels in the solar atmosphere and, therefore, to a sizeable weakening of Fe I lines. Such NLTE effects may be intensified or weakened by horizontal radiative transfer (RT) in a three-dimensionally (3-D) structured atmosphere. We analyze the influence of horizontal RT on commonly used Fe I lines in a snapshot of a 3-D radiation magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulat…
In order to study the distribution of gas and ionizing radiation around eta Car and their implications for its likely companion star, we have examined high-excitation emission lines of [Ne III], [Fe III], etc., in spectra obtained with the HST/STIS instrument during 1998-2004. Our principal results, some of them unexpected, are: (1) The high-excitation fluxes varied systematically and non-trivially throughout eta Car's 5.5-year spectroscopic cycle. Instead of rising to a plateau after the 1998 "event," they changed continuously with a maximum in mid-cycle. (2) At one significant location a bri…
Solar coronal loops are commonly subject to oscillations. Observations of coronal oscillations are used to infer physical properties of the coronal plasma using coronal seismology. Excitation and evolution of oscillations in coronal loops is typically studied using highly idealised models of magnetic flux-tubes. In order to improve our understanding of coronal oscillations, it is necessary to consider the effect of realistic magnetic field topology and evolution. We study excitation and evolution of coronal oscillations in three-dimensional self-consistent simulations of solar atmosphere spann…
Supermassive stars (SMSs) with masses of $M_\ast \simeq 10^4$--$10^5~{\rm M_\odot}$ are invoked as possible seeds of high-redshift supermassive black holes, but it remains under debate whether their protostar indeed acquires sufficient mass via gas accretion overcoming radiative feedback. We investigate protostellar growth in dynamically heated atomic-cooling haloes (ACHs) found in recent cosmological simulations, performing three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamical (RHD) simulations that consider stellar evolution under variable mass accretion. We find that one of the ACHs feeds the central …
The classic optical nebular diagnostics [N II], [O II], [O III], [S II], [S III], and [Ar III] are employed to search for evidence of non-Maxwellian electron distributions, namely $κ$ distributions, in a sample of well-observed Galactic H II regions. By computing new effective collision strengths for all these systems and A-values when necessary (e.g. S II), and by comparing with previous collisional and radiative datasets, we have been able to obtain realistic estimates of the electron-temperature dispersion caused by the atomic data, which in most cases are not larger than $\sim 10$%. If the…
