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arXiv · 0803.3184

Line intensity enhancements in stellar coronal X-ray spectra due to opacity effects

S. J. Rose·M. Matranga·M. Mathioudakis·F. P. Keenan·J. S. Wark
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Abstract

Context. The I(15.01 A)/I(16.78 A) emission line intensity ratio in Fe XVII has been reported to deviate from its theoretical value in solar and stellar X-ray spectra. This is attributed to opacity in the 15.01 A line, leading to a reduction in its intensity, and was interpreted in terms of a geometry in which the emitters and absorbers are spatially distinct. Aims. We study the I(15.01 A)/I(16.78 A) intensity ratio for the active cool dwarf EV Lac, in both flare and quiescent spectra. Methods. The observations were obtained with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer on the XMM-Newton satellite. The emission measure distribution versus temperature reconstruction technique is used for our analysis. Results. We find that the 15.01 A line exhibits a significant enhancement in intensity over the optically thin value. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such an enhancement has been detected on such a sound statistical basis. We interpret this enhancement in terms of a geometry in which the emitters and absorbers are not spatially distinct, and where the geometry is such that resonant pumping of the upper level has a greater effect on the observed line intensity than resonant absorption in the line-of-sight.

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S. J. Rose, M. Matranga, M. Mathioudakis, F. P. Keenan, J. S. Wark. 2008-03-21. Line intensity enhancements in stellar coronal X-ray spectra due to opacity effects. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20079040

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