https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/s10053-025-00969-0
Regular Article - Atomic Physics
Dielectronic recombination into high-n Rydberg shells
1
Helmholtz-Institut Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743, Jena, Germany
2
GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, 64291, Darmstadt, Germany
3
Theoretisch-Physikalisches Institut, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
4
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China
5
I. Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, 35392, Giessen, Germany
6
Helmholtz Research Academy Hesse for FAIR (HFHF), GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Campus Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
7
Key Laboratory of Atomic and Molecular Physics and Functional Materials of Gansu Province, College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, 730070, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
Received:
20
January
2025
Accepted:
18
February
2025
Published online:
26
March
2025
The dielectronic recombination (DR) of multiply and highly charged ions often proceeds due to the capture of electrons into high-n Rydberg orbitals. The formation of these high-n resonances is relevant to the dynamics of low-temperature plasma and has been explored especially for the DR of initially lithium-like ions. Despite the great interest in low-temperature plasma rate coefficients for different ions, however, several difficulties have hampered the modeling of high-n resonances owing to their complex shell and fine structure, or merely the size of these ions in their doubly excited state. To improve the modeling of DR processes with high-n Rydberg orbitals, we here expand and illustrate the use of JAC, the Jena Atomic Calculator. In particular, we now support several empirical corrections in order to synthesize DR spectra for a wide range of positive ions. This expansion also prepares JAC for a new class of storage-ring experiments that aim for determining improved valence-shell excitations energies of (highly charged) beryllium- and other few-electron ions. To demonstrate this expansion of the JAC code, we here compute and discuss the low-lying DR resonances of initially beryllium-like Pt
ions and compare the predicted spectra with previous measurements and computations. Beside this rather uninvolved example, the JAC toolbox is suitable for many other, if not most, multiply and highly charged ions across the periodic table.
Graphical Abstract: Well-known difficulties and challenges in dealing with high-n dielectronic recombination (DR) computations
Mathematics Subject Classification: 32.10.–f / 32.10.–r / 95.30.Dr
© The Author(s) 2025
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