Atomic data for modeling of cold photoionized copper

• Published in: The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 79; no. 7
• Main Authors: Wang, Feilu, Shi, Jianrong, Stambulchik, Evgeny, Zhao, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 11.07.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory; Atomic; Autoionization; Copper; Decay rate; K lines; Missions; Modelling; Molecular; Nuclear fusion; Optical and Plasma Physics; Photoionization; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Regular Article - Atomic Physics; Spectral resolution; Spectroscopy/Spectrometry; Spintronics
• ISSN: 1434-6060; 1434-6079
• DOI: 10.1140/epjd/s10053-025-01032-8

Radiative K-shell transitions of weakly ionized copper, a key element among the iron-peak group, provide valuable diagnostics for both astrophysical objects and laboratory photoionized plasmas. In this work, we present atomic data for the K-shell radiative decay rates, photoionization cross sections, and autoionization rates, all of which are essential for accurate spectral modeling of such plasma. To access the reliability of these data, extensive comparisons with previously published results have been made, revealing uncertainties of only a few electron volts in the K-vacancy transition energies. With the upcoming generation of X-ray missions, which are expected to significantly increase effective area around 8 keV, the detection of copper K lines becomes promising and the spectral resolution of these missions is well matched to the accuracy of our calculations. The atomic data thus provide a consistent theoretical framework for interpreting the observed spectra and enhance our understanding of copper nucleosynthesis. Graphical abstract