Signatures of the non-Maxwellian $kappa$-distributions in optically thin line spectra. II. Synthetic Fe XVII–XVIII X-ray coronal spectra and predictions for the Marshall Grazing-Incidence X-ray Spectrometer (MaGIXS). (arXiv:1905.10356v1 [astro-ph.SR])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Dudik_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Jaroslav Dudik</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Dzifcakova_E/0/1/0/all/0/1">Elena Dzifcakova</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Zanna_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Giulio Del Zanna</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Mason_H/0/1/0/all/0/1">Helen E. Mason</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Golub_L/0/1/0/all/0/1">Leon L. Golub</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Winebarger_A/0/1/0/all/0/1">Amy R. Winebarger</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Savage_S/0/1/0/all/0/1">Sabrina L. Savage</a>
We investigated the possibility of diagnosing the degree of departure from
the Maxwellian distribution using the Fe XVII – Fe XVIII spectra originating in
plasmas in collisional ionization equilibrium, such as in the cores of solar
active regions or microflares. The original collision strengths for excitation
are integrated over the non-Maxwellian electron $kappa$-distributions
characterized by a high-energy tail. Synthetic X-ray emission line spectra were
calculated for a range of temperatures and $kappa$. We focus on the 6-24 A
spectral range to be observed by the upcoming Marshall Grazing-Incidence X-ray
Spectrometer MaGIXS. We find that many line intensity ratios are sensitive to
both $T$ and $kappa$. Best diagnostic options are provided if a ratio
involving both Fe XVII and Fe XVIII is combined with another ratio involving
lines formed within a single ion. The sensitivity of such diagnostics to
$kappa$ is typically a few tens of per cent. Much larger sensitivity, of about
a factor of two to three, can be obtained if the Fe XVIII 93.93 A line observed
by SDO/AIA is used in conjuction with the X-ray lines. We conclude that the
MaGIXS instrument is well-suited for detection of departures from the
Maxwellian distribution, especially in active region cores.
We investigated the possibility of diagnosing the degree of departure from
the Maxwellian distribution using the Fe XVII – Fe XVIII spectra originating in
plasmas in collisional ionization equilibrium, such as in the cores of solar
active regions or microflares. The original collision strengths for excitation
are integrated over the non-Maxwellian electron $kappa$-distributions
characterized by a high-energy tail. Synthetic X-ray emission line spectra were
calculated for a range of temperatures and $kappa$. We focus on the 6-24 A
spectral range to be observed by the upcoming Marshall Grazing-Incidence X-ray
Spectrometer MaGIXS. We find that many line intensity ratios are sensitive to
both $T$ and $kappa$. Best diagnostic options are provided if a ratio
involving both Fe XVII and Fe XVIII is combined with another ratio involving
lines formed within a single ion. The sensitivity of such diagnostics to
$kappa$ is typically a few tens of per cent. Much larger sensitivity, of about
a factor of two to three, can be obtained if the Fe XVIII 93.93 A line observed
by SDO/AIA is used in conjuction with the X-ray lines. We conclude that the
MaGIXS instrument is well-suited for detection of departures from the
Maxwellian distribution, especially in active region cores.
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