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N. S. Brickhouse, P. Desai, R. Hoogerwerf (CfA), R. K. Smith (NASA/GSFC)
The ATOMDB is an atomic database useful for X-ray spectral modeling. The atomic data in ATOMDB serve as inputs to the Astrophysical Plasma Emission Code (APEC). To date we have produced models for plasmas in collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) and made them widely available through X-ray spectral fitting packages such as Sherpa and XSPEC. We discuss the successes and failures of the current models in terms of accuracy and completeness of the atomic data.
Plans for the future include: (a) improvements to fundamental data, e.g. more accurate wavelengths; (b) new atomic rate data to calculate ionization balance, including non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) conditions; (c) redesign of the database to make it more useful for other applications, e.g. opacities needed in photoionized plasmas; (d) new tools for users to access the database and create their own plasma models.
This project is supported by NASA contract NAS8-39073 to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for the Chandra X-ray Center as well as through Chandra Guest Observer Program TM3-4006A.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.