Progress in the study of collisions of multiply charged ions with surfaces is reviewed with the help of a few recent examples. They range from fundamental quasi-one electron processes to highly complex ablation and material modification processes. Open questions and possible future directions will be discussed.
Ionization of highly charged relativistic ions by neutral atoms and ions is considered. Numerical results of recently developed computer codes based on the relativistic Born and the equivalent-photon approximations are presented. The ionization of the outer shells dominate. For the outer projectile electron shells, which give the main contribution to the process, the non-relativistic Schrödinger wave functions can be used. The formulae for the non-relativistic reduction of the Dirac matrix-elements are obtained for ionization of electrons with arbitrary quantum numbers $n$ and $\ell$.
A rigorous QED theory of the spectral line profiles is applied to transition probabilities in few-electron highly charged ions. Interelectron interaction corrections are included as well as radiative corrections. Parity nonconserving (PNC) amplitudes with effective weak interactions between the electrons and nucleus are also considered. QED and interelectron interaction corrections to the PNC amplitudes are derived.
We identify laser-accessible transitions in group 16-like highly charged ions as candidates for high-accuracy optical clocks, including S-, Se-, and Te-like systems. For this class of ions, the ground $^{3}P_{J}$ fine structure manifold exhibits irregular (nonmonotonic in $J$) energy ordering for large enough ionization degree. We consider the $|^3P_2\rangle \longleftrightarrow |^3P_0\rangle$ (ground to first-excited state) electric quadrupole transition, performing relativistic many-body calculations of several atomic properties important for optical clock development. All ions discussed are …
In Penning traps electromagnetic forces are used to confine charged particles under well-controlled conditions for virtually unlimited time. Sensitive detection methods have been developed to allow observation of single stored ions. Various cooling methods can be employed to reduce the energy of the trapped particle to nearly at rest. In this review we summarize how highly charged ions offer unique possibilities for precision measurements in Penning traps. Precision atomic and nuclear masses as well as magnetic moments of bound electrons allow among others to determine fundamental constants li…
The paper presents the current status of the theory of bound-electron g factor in highly charged ions. The calculations of the relativistic, QED, nuclear recoil, nuclear structure, and interelectronic-interaction corrections to the g factor are reviewed. Special attention is paid to tests of QED effects at strong coupling regime and determinations of the fundamental constants.
We have conceived, built and operated a 'half-open' cylindrical Penning trap for the confinement and laser spectroscopy of highly charged ions. This trap allows fluorescence detection employing a solid angle which is about one order of magnitude larger than in conventional cylindrical Penning traps. At the same time, the desired electrostatic and magnetostatic properties of a closed-endcap cylindrical Penning trap are preserved in this congfiuration. We give a detailed account on the design and confinement properties, a characterization of the trap and show first results of light collection wi…
We discuss the prospects for parity non-conservation experiments with highly charged heavy ions. Energy levels and parity mixing for heavy ions with two to five electrons are calculated. We investigate two-photon-transitions and the possibility to observe interference effects between weak-matrix elements and Stark matrix elements for periodic electric field configurations.
Optical atomic clocks using highly-charged ions hold an intriguing promise of metrology at the 19th significant figure. Here we study transitions within the $4f^{12}$ ground-state electronic configuration of highly charged ions. We consider isotopes lacking hyperfine structure and show that the detrimental effects of coupling of electronic quadrupole moments to gradients of trapping electric field can be effectively reduced by using specially chosen virtual clock transitions. The estimated systematic fractional clock accuracy is shown to be below $10^{-19}$.
We discuss a parity nonconserving (PNC) asymmetry in the cross section of dielectronic recombination of polarized electrons on multiply charged ions with Z>40. This effect is strongly enhanced for close doubly-excited states of opposite parity in the intermediate compound ion. Such states are known for He-like ions. However, these levels have large energy and large radiative widths which hampers observation of the PNC asymmetry. We argue that accidentally degenerate states of the more complex ions may be more suitable for the corresponding experiment.
We review a number of highly charged ions which have optical transitions suitable for building extremely accurate atomic clocks. This includes ions from Hf$^{12+}$ to U$^{34+}$, which have the $4f^{12}$ configuration of valence electrons, the Ir$^{17+}$ ion, which has a hole in almost filled $4f$ subshell, the Ho$^{14+}$, Cf$^{15+}$, Es$^{17+}$ and Es$^{16+}$ ions. Clock transitions in most of these ions are sensitive to variation of the fine structure constant, $α$ ($α= e^2/\hbar c$). E.g., californium and einsteinium ions have largest known sensitivity to $α$-variation while holmium ion look…
We propose a novel type of precision laser spectrometer for trapped, highly charged ions nearly at rest. It consists of a cylindrical open-endcap Penning trap in which an externally produced bunch of highly charged ions can be confined and investigated by means of laser spectroscopy. The combination of confinement, cooling and compression of a dense ion cloud will allow the ground state hyperfine splitting in highly charged ions to be measured with an accuracy three orders of magnitude better than in any previous experiment. A systematic study of different charge states and different isotopes …
We have extended the classical over-barrier model to simulate the neutralization dynamics of highly charged ions interacting under grazing incidence with conducting and insulating surfaces. Our calculations are based on simple model rates for resonant and Auger transitions. We include effects caused by the dielectric response of the target and, for insulators, localized surface charges. Characteristic deviations regarding the charge transfer processes from conducting and insulating targets to the ion are discussed. We find good agreement with previously published experimental data for the imag…
The isotope shifts of forbidden transitions in Be- and B-like argon ions are calculated. It is shown that only using the relativistic recoil operator can provide a proper evaluation of the mass isotope shift, which strongly dominates over the field isotope shift for the ions under consideration. Comparing the isotope shifts calculated with the current experimental uncertainties indicates very good perspectives for a first test of the relativistic theory of the recoil effect in middle-Z ions.
The present status of tests of QED with highly charged ions is reviewed. The theoretical predictions for the Lamb shift and the transition energies are compared with available experimental data. Recent achievements in studies of the hyperfine splitting and the $g$-factor isotope shift with highly charged ions are reported. Special attention is paid to tests of QED within and beyond the Furry picture at strong-coupling regime. Prospects for tests of QED at supercritical fields that can be created in low-energy heavy-ion collisions are discussed as well.
We consider excitation of highly charged hydrogen-like ions by the impact of equivelocity electrons and protons. The kinetic energy of the protons is more than three orders of magnitude larger than that of the equivelocity electrons. It is shown, however, that despite this fact, the electrons can be much more effective in inducing excitation at collision velocities (slightly) above the threshold for electron impact excitation. The basic reason for this is the strong distortion of the motion of the electron by the attractive field of the nucleus of the highly charged ion.
The electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology was used to produce highly-charged ions of hafnium, tantalum and gold with an open 3d shell. The extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) spectra from these ions were recorded with a flat-field grazing-incidence spectrometer in the wavelength range of 4.5 nm to 25 nm. A total of 133 new spectral lines, primarily due to magnetic-dipole transitions within the ground-state $3d^n$ configurations of the Co-like to K-like ions, were identified by comparing energy-dependent experimental spectra with a detailed collisional-radiat…
We recently used a compact Penning trap to capture and isolate highly-charged ions extracted from an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Isolated charge states of highly-stripped argon and neon ions with total charge $Q \geq 10$, extracted at energies of up to $4\times 10^3\,Q$ eV, are captured in a trap with well depths of $\,\approx (4\, {\rm to}\, 12)\,Q$ eV. Here we discuss in detail the process to optimize velocity-tuning, capture, and storage of highly-charged ions in a unitary Penning trap designed to provide easy radial access for…
We propose a novel class of atomic clocks based on highly charged ions. We consider highly-forbidden laser-accessible transitions within the $4f^{12}$ ground-state configurations of highly charged ions. Our evaluation of systematic effects demonstrates that these transitions may be used for building exceptionally accurate atomic clocks which may compete in accuracy with recently proposed nuclear clock.
Photoabsorption by and fluorescence of the Kα transitions in highly charged iron ions are essential mechanisms for X-ray radiation transfer in astrophysical environments. We study photoabsorption due to the main Kα transitions in highly charged iron ions from heliumlike to fluorinelike (Fe 24+...17+) using monochromatic X-rays around 6.6 keV at the PETRA III synchrotron photon source. Natural linewidths were determined with hitherto unattained accuracy. The observed transitions are of particular interest for the understanding of photoexcited plasmas found in X-ray binaries and active galactic …
The nuclear recoil effect on the g factor of highly charged Li-like ions is evaluated in the range Z=10-92. The calculations are performed using the 1/Z perturbation theory. The one-electron recoil contribution is evaluated within the fully relativistic approach with the wave functions which account for the screening effects approximately. The two-electron recoil contributions of the first and higher orders in 1/Z are calculated within the Breit approximation using a four-component approach.
New approach to highly accurate calculations of the photodetachment cross-sections of the negatively charged hydrogen ions is developed. This effective, fast and numerically stable method is based on the use of the Rayleigh's formula for the spherical Bessel functions. Photodetachment cross-sections of the negatively charged hydrogen ion(s) ${}^{\infty}$H$^{-}$, ${}^{1}$H$^{-}$ (protium), ${}^{2}$H$^{-}$ (deuterium D$^{-}$) and ${}^{3}$H$^{-}$ (tritium T$^{-}$) are determined with the use of highly accurate, truly correlated, variational wave functions constructed for these ions. Our method al…
Bound state properties of the four-electron lithium ion Li$^{-}$ in its ground $2^{2}S-$state and isotope-subsistuted ${}^{6}$Li$^{-}$ and ${}^{7}$Li$^{-}$ ions in their ground $2^1S-$state(s) are determined from the results of accurate, variational computations. Another closely related problem discussed in this study is accurate numerical evaluation of the half-life of the beryllium-7 isotope. This problem is of paramount importance for modern radiochemistry.
A cryogenic radio-frequency ion trap system designed for quantum logic spectroscopy of highly charged ions is presented. It includes a segmented linear Paul trap, an in-vacuum imaging lens and a helical resonator. We demonstrate ground state cooling of all three modes of motion of a single $^9$Be$^+$ ion and determine their heating rates as well as excess axial micromotion. The trap shows one of the lowest levels of electric field noise published to date. We investigate the magnetic-field noise suppression in cryogenic shields made from segmented copper, the resulting magnetic field stability …
We have performed laser cooling of Mg ions confined in a Penning trap. The externally produced ions were captured in flight, stored and laser cooled. Laser-induced fluorescence was observed perpendicular to the cooling laser axis. Optical detection down to the single ion level together with electronic detection of the ion oscillations inside the Penning trap have been used to acquire information on the ion storage time, ion number and ion temperature. Evidence for formation of ion crystals has been observed. These investigations are an important prerequisite for sympathetic cooling of simultan…
The nuclear magnetic shielding is considered within the fully relativistic approach for the ground state of H-, Li-, and B-like ions in the range Z=32-92. The interelectronic interaction is evaluated to the first order of the perturbation theory in Li- and B-like ions. The calculations are based on the finite-field method. The numerical solution of the Dirac equation with the magnetic-field and hyperfine interactions included within the dual-kinetic-balance method is employed. The nuclear magnetic shielding constant is an important ingredient for accurate determination of the nuclear magnetic …
Resonance fluorescence of laser-driven highly charged ions is studied in the relativistic regime by solving the time-dependent master equation in a multi-level model. Our ab initio approach based on the Dirac equation allows for investigating highly relativistic ions, and, consequently, provides a sensitive means to test correlated relativistic dynamics, bound-state quantum electrodynamic phenomena and nuclear effects by applying coherent light with x-ray frequencies. Atomic dipole or multipole moments may be determined to unprecedented accuracy by measuring the interference-narrowed fluoresce…
Recent progress in quantum electrodynamics (QED) calculations of highly charged ions is reviewed. The theoretical predictions for the binding energies, the hyperfine splittings, and the g factors are presented and compared with available experimental data. Special attention is paid to tests of bound-state QED at strong field regime. Future prospects for tests of QED at the strongest electric and magnetic fields as well as for determination of the fine structure constant and the nuclear magnetic moments with heavy ions are discussed.
Accurate QED evaluations of the one- and two-photon interelectron interaction for low lying two- and three-electron configurations for ions with nuclear charge numbers $60\le Z \le 93$ are performed. The three-photon interaction is also partly taken into account. The Coulomb gauge is employed. The results are compared with available experimental data and with different calculations. A detailed investigation of the behaviour of the energy levels of the configurations $1s_{1/2}2s_{1/2} {}^1 S_0$, $1s_{1/2}2p_{1/2} {}^3 P_0$ near the crossing points Z=64 and Z=92 is carried out. The crossing poin…
We consider transitions of electron holes (vacancies in otherwise filled shells of atomic systems) in multiply-charged ions that, due to level-crossing of the holes, have frequencies within the range of optical atomic clocks. Strong E1 transitions provide new options for laser-cooling and trapping, while narrow transitions can be used for high-precision spectroscopy and tests of fundamental physics. We show that hole transitions can have extremely high sensitivity to alpha-variation due to large relativistic corrections, and propose candidate transitions that have much larger alpha-sensitiviti…
The excitation of the 8 eV $^{229m}$Th isomer through the electronic bridge mechanism in highly charged ions is investigated theoretically. By exploiting the rich level scheme of open $4f$ orbitals and the robustness of highly charged ions against photoionization, a pulsed high-intensity optical laser can be used to efficiently drive the nuclear transition by coupling it to the electronic shell. We show how to implement a promising electronic bridge scheme in an electron beam ion trap starting from a metastable electronic state. This setup would avoid the need for a tunable vacuum ultraviolet …
The nuclear recoil effect on the $g$ factor of the ground state of highly charged B-like ions is studied to first order in the electron-to-nucleus mass ratio $m/M$. The leading one-electron and two-electron recoil contributions are calculated nonperturbatively in the parameter $αZ$ within the rigorous QED formalism. The interelectronic-interaction correction to the nuclear recoil effect is evaluated in the Breit approximation by means of perturbation theory to the first order in $1/Z$. The higher-order interelectronic-interaction corrections are taken into account partially by performing the c…
We present an experimental concept and setup for laser-microwave double-resonance spectroscopy of highly charged ions in a Penning trap. Such spectroscopy allows a highly precise measurement of the Zeeman splittings of fine- and hyperfine-structure levels due the magnetic field of the trap. We have performed detailed calculations of the Zeeman effect in the framework of quantum electrodynamics of bound states as present in such highly charged ions. We find that apart from the linear Zeeman effect, second- and third-order Zeeman effects also contribute to the splittings on a level of 10^-4 and …
A systematic investigation of the nuclear-polarization effects in one- and few-electron heavy ions is presented. The nuclear-polarization corrections in the zeroth and first orders in $1/Z$ are evaluated to the binding energies, the hyperfine splitting, and the bound-electron g factor. It is shown, that the nuclear-polarization contributions can be substantially canceled simultaneously with the rigid nuclear corrections. This allows for new prospects for probing the QED effects in strong electromagnetic field and the determination of fundamental constants.
We study the fragmentation of very large dimers into two singly charged ions caused by absorption of a photon. In this process a photo electron emitted from one atom of the dimer has certain chances to hit the other atom knocking out one of its electrons. This results in the production of two singly charged ions and the consequent Coulomb explosion of the residual doubly charged system. We develop a theory of this process and apply it to calculate the fragmentation of $^4$He$_2$, $^7$Li - $^4$He and $^6$Li - $^4$He dimers. Our results for the helium dimer are in good agreement with available e…
The novel five-Penning trap mass spectrometer PENTATRAP is developed at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK), Heidelberg. Ions of interest are long-lived highly charged nuclides up to bare uranium. PENTATRAP aims for an accuracy of a few parts in 10^12 for mass ratios of mass doublets. A physics program for PENTATRAP includes Q-values measurements of β-transitions relevant for neutrino physics, stringent tests of quantum electrodynamics in the regime of extreme electric fields, and a test of special relativity. Main features of PENTATRAP are an access to a source of highly charged ion…
The main goal of the present work is to estimate the effects of plasma environment on the atomic parameters associated with the K-vacancy states in highly charged iron ions within the astrophysical context of accretion disks around black holes. In order to do this, multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock computations have been carried out by considering a time averaged Debye-Hückel potential for both the electron-nucleus and electron-electron interactions. In the present paper, a first sample of results related to the ionization potentials, the K-thresholds, the transition energies and the radiative emi…
An angle-resolved x-ray spectroscopic scheme is presented for determining the hyperfine splitting of highly charged ions. For helium-like ions, in particular, we propose to measure either the angular distribution or polarization of the $1s2p~^{3}P_{1}, F \rightarrow 1s^{2}~^{1}S_{0}, F_{f}$ emission following the stimulated decay of the initial $1s2s~^{1}S_{0}, F_{i}$ level. It is found that both the angular and polarization characteristics of the emitted x-ray photons strongly depends on the (relative) \textit{splitting} of the partially overlapping hyperfine $1s2p~^{3}P_{1}, F$ resonances an…
An overview is presented of laser spectroscopy experiments with cold, trapped, highly-charged ions, which will be performed at the HITRAP facility at GSI in Darmstadt (Germany). These high-resolution measurements of ground state hyperfine splittings will be three orders of magnitude more precise than previous measurements. Moreover, from a comparison of measurements of the hyperfine splittings in hydrogen- and lithium-like ions of the same isotope, QED effects at high electromagnetic fields can be determined within a few percent. Several candidate ions suited for these laser spectroscopy studi…
Recent developments in frequency metrology and optical clocks have been based on electronic transitions in atoms and singly charged ions as references. These systems have enabled relative frequency uncertainties at a level of a few parts in $10^{-18}$. This accomplishment not only allows for extremely accurate time and frequency measurements, but also to probe our understanding of fundamental physics, such as variation of fundamental constants, violation of the local Lorentz invariance, and forces beyond the Standard Model of Physics. In addition, novel clocks are driving the development of so…
Relativistic calculations of the isotope shifts of energy levels in highly charged Li-like ions are performed. The nuclear recoil (mass shift) contributions are calculated by merging the perturbative and large-scale configuration-interaction Dirac-Fock-Sturm (CI-DFS) methods. The nuclear size (field shift) contributions are evaluated by the CI-DFS method including the electron-correlation, Breit, and QED corrections. The nuclear deformation and nuclear polarization corrections to the isotope shifts in Li-like neodymium, thorium, and uranium are also considered. The results of the calculations …
An overview and status report of the new trapping facility for highly charged ions at the Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung is presented. The construction of this facility started in 2005 and is expected to be completed in 2008. Once operational, highly charged ions will be loaded from the experimental storage ring ESR into the HITRAP facility, where they are decelerated and cooled. The kinetic energy of the initially fast ions is reduced by more than fourteen orders of magnitude and their thermal energy is cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The cold ions are then delivered to a broad rang…
It is proposed to produce the highly charged ions in the local ion trap formed by a rippling electron beam in the focusing magnetic field. The experimental results demonstrate the presence of iridium ions with charges up to 50+. According to estimates, the average electron current density in the local ion trap can reach the value of the order of 10 kA/cm^2. The pilot examples of devices of this type with the electron beam energies within the range 3-10 keV are also presented.
We study electronic transitions in highly-charged Cf ions that are within the frequency range of optical lasers and have very high sensitivity to potential variations in the fine-structure constant, alpha. The transitions are in the optical despite the large ionisation energies because they lie on the level-crossing of the 5f and 6p valence orbitals in the thallium isoelectronic sequence. Cf16+ is a particularly rich ion, having several narrow lines with properties that minimize certain systematic effects. Cf16+ has very large nuclear charge and large ionisation energy, resulting in the larges…
Absorption of infrared and visible radiation from stellar emission spectra by the negatively charged hydrogen ions H$^{-}$ is considered. The explicit formula for the photodetachment cross-section of the negatively charged hydrogen ion(s) is derived. Photodetachemnt cross-sections of the ${}^{\infty}$H$^{-}$, ${}^{3}$H$^{-}$ (or T$^{-}$), ${}^{2}$H$^{-}$ (or D$^{-}$) and ${}^{1}$H$^{-}$ ions are determined to high accuracy and for a large number of photo-electron momenta/energies. We introduce criteria which can be used to evaluate the overall quality of highly accurate wave functions of the h…
We propose here a few selective highly charged ions (HCIs), namely Ni$^{12+}$ and Cu$^{13+}$, Pd$^{12+}$ and Ag$^{13+}$, that not only promise to be very high accurate optical clocks below $10^{-19}$ uncertainties, but also offer quality factors larger than $10^{15}$ and yet possess simple atomic structures for the experimental set-up. Moreover, these ions have strong optical magnetic-dipole (M1) transitions than the previously proposed HCI clocks. They can be used for the cooling and detection techniques. To demonstrate the projected fractional uncertainties below $10^{-19}$ level, we have es…
The Rayleigh scattering of x-rays by many-electron highly charged ions is studied theoretically. The many-electron perturbation theory, based on a rigorous quantum electrodynamics approach, is developed and implemented for the case of the elastic scattering of (high-energetic) photons by helium-like ion. Using this elaborate approach, we here investigate the many-electron effects beyond the independent-particle approximation (IPA) as conventionally employed for describing the Rayleigh scattering. The total and angle-differential cross sections are evaluated for the x-ray scattering by helium-l…
The current status of bound state quantum electrodynamics calculations of transition energies for few-electron ions is reviewed. Evaluation of one and two body QED correction is presented, as well as methods to evaluate many-body effects that cannot beevaluated with present-day QED calculations. Experimental methods, their evolution over time, as well as progress in accuracy are presented. A detailed, quantitative, comparison between theory and experiment is presented for transition energies in few-electron ions. In particular the impact of the nuclear size correction on the quality of QED tes…
Molecules and atomic highly charged ions provide powerful low-energy probes of the fundamental laws of physics: Polar molecules possess internal fields suitable to enhance fundamental symmetry violation by several orders of magnitudes, whereas atoms in high charge states can feature large relativistic effects and compressed level structures, ideally posed for high sensitivity to variations of fundamental constants. Polar, highly charged molecules could benefit from both: large internal fields and large relativistic effects. However, a high charge dramatically weakens chemical bonding and drive…
A Lorentz-symmetry test with Ca$^+$ ions demonstrated the potential of using quantum information inspired technology for tests of fundamental physics. A systematic study of atomic-system sensitivities to Lorentz violation identified the ytterbium ion as an ideal system with high sensitivity as well as excellent experimental controllability. A test of Lorentz-violating physics in the electron-photon sector with Yb$^+$ ions has the potential to reach levels of 10$^{-23}$, five orders of magnitude more sensitive than the current best bounds. Similar sensitivities may be also reached with highly c…
Extensive self-consistent multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) calculations are performed for the $3s^2 3p^6 3d^k$ ($k=1-9$) ground configurations of highly charged ions ($Z=72-83$). Complete and consistent data sets of \textbf{excitation energies}, wavelengths, line strengths, oscillator strengths, and magnetic dipole (M1) and electric quadrupole (E2) transition rates among all these levels are given. We have compared our results with the results available in the literature and the accuracy of the data is assessed. We predict new energy levels and transition probabilities where no o…
Trapping and cooling techniques have become very important for many fundamental experiments in atomic physics. When applied to highly charged ions confined in Penning traps, these procedures are very effective for testing quantum electrodynamics in extreme electromagnetic fields produced by heavy highly charged ions such as uranium U$^{91+}$. In addition, fundamental constants or nuclear ground state properties can be determined with high accuracy in these simple systems. Finally, by studying a single trapped radioactive ion, its nuclear decay can be studied in detail by observing the disappea…
Dielectronic recombination (DR) of few-electron ions has evolved into a sensitive spectroscopic tool for highly charged ions. This is due to technological advances in electron-beam preparation and ion-beam cooling techniques at heavy-ion storage rings. Recent experiments prove unambiguously that DR collision spectroscopy has become sensitive to 2nd order QED and to nuclear effects. This review discusses the most recent developments in high-resolution spectroscopy of low-energy DR resonances, experimental studies of KLL DR of very heavy hydrogenlike ions, isotope shift measurements of DR resona…
We discuss an approach to accurate numerical computations of slowly convergent properties in two-electron atoms/ions which include the negatively charged Ps$^{-}$ ($e^{-} e^{+} e^{-}$) and H$^{-}$ ions, He atom and positively charged, helium-like ions from Li$^{+}$ to Ni$^{26+}$. All these ions are considered in their ground $1^{1}S-$state(s). The slowly convergent properties selected in this study include the electron-nulceus $\langle r^{2 k}_{eN} \rangle$ and electron-electron $\langle r^{2 k}_{ee} \rangle$ expectation values for $k$ = 2, 3, 4 and 5.
We have built a vacuum double crystal spectrometer, which coupled to an electron-cyclotron resonance ion source, allows to measure low-energy x-ray transitions in highly-charged ions with accuracies of the order of a few parts per million. We describe in detail the instrument and its performances. Furthermore, we present a few spectra of transitions in Ar$^{14+}$, Ar$^{15+}$ and Ar$^{16+}$. We have developed an ab initio simulation code that allows us to obtain accurate line profiles. It can reproduce experimental spectra with unprecedented accuracy. The quality of the profiles allows the dire…
An electron beam ion trap (EBIT) is used to measure extreme ultraviolet spectra between 10 nm and 25 nm from highly-charged ions of tungsten with an open 3d shell (W XLVIII through W LVI). We found that almost all strong lines are due to the forbidden magnetic-dipole (M1) transitions within $3d^n$ ground configurations. A total of 37 spectral lines are identified for the first time using detailed collisional-radiative (CR) modeling of the EBIT spectra. A new level-merging scheme for compactification of rate equations is described. The CR simulations for Maxwellian plasmas show that several lin…
We have performed classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) studies of electron capture and ionization in multiply charged (Q=8) ion-Rydberg atom collisions at intermediate impact velocities. Impact parallel to the minor and to the major axis, respectively, of the initial Kepler electron ellipse has been investigated. The important role of the initial electron momentum distribution found for singly charged ion impact is strongly disminished for higher projectile charge, while the initial spatial distribution remains important for all values of Q studied.
A low-energy, compact and superconducting electron beam ion trap (the Shanghai-Wuhan EBIT or SW-EBIT) for extraction of highly charged ions is presented. The magnetic field in the central drift tube of the SW-EBIT is approximately 0.21 T produced by a pair of high-temperature superconducting coils. The electron-beam energy of the SW-EBIT is in the range of 30-4000 eV, and the maximum electron-beam current is up to 9 mA. Acting as a source of highly charged ions, the ion-beam optics for extraction is integrated, including an ion extractor and an einzel lens. A Wien filter is then used to measur…