Charge transfer of O ⁺ with Si, S, Mg, and Ne for supernova ejecta modelling
- 1Theoretical Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University
- 2The Oskar Klein Centre, Department of Astronomy, Stockholm University
Abstract
Charge transfer processes influence the ionisation balance of supernova ejecta, and the current lack of data for charge transfer between neutral and singly ionised species is a major uncertainty in the modelling and interpretation of their spectra. This study aims to significantly improve the situation by providing fully quantum mechanical calculations for the charge transfer of O ⁺ with four important elements, namely Si, S, Mg, and Ne. Potential energies and non-adiabatic coupling for relevant states of the molecular ions SiO ⁺ , SO ⁺ , MgO ⁺ , and NeO ⁺ are calculated, which are then employed in quantum scattering calculations. Collision cross sections at low-energy (up to 10 eV) are calculated, and corresponding rate coefficients are determined for temperatures up to 10000 K. These data allow for accurate consideration of these processes in astrophysical models. The role of these processes in the O/Si/S and O/Ne/Mg zones of the ejecta of supernovae and their impact on spectrum formation in SN 1987A are discussed through comparisons with competing processes. The analysis suggests that the charge transfer processes with Si and S are likely to be significant in the O/Si/S zone, while the processes involving Mg and Ne are unlikely to have significant effects in the O/Ne/Mg zone.
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BibTeX
@article{reja2026charge,
title = {{Charge transfer of O ⁺ with Si, S, Mg, and Ne for supernova ejecta modelling}},
author = {Deboki Reja and Paul S. Barklem and Anders Jerkstrand},
journal = {Astronomy \& Astrophysics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/202661965},
url = {https://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202661965},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Charge transfer of O ⁺ with Si, S, Mg, and Ne for supernova ejecta modelling
AU - Deboki Reja
AU - Paul S. Barklem
AU - Anders Jerkstrand
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Astronomy & Astrophysics
DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202661965
UR - https://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202661965
AB - Charge transfer processes influence the ionisation balance of supernova ejecta, and the current lack of data for charge transfer between neutral and singly ionised species is a major uncertainty in the modelling and interpretation of their spectra. This study aims to significantly improve the situation by providing fully quantum mechanical calculations for the charge transfer of O ⁺ with four important elements, namely Si, S, Mg, and Ne. Potential energies and non-adiabatic coupling for relevant states of the molecular ions SiO ⁺ , SO ⁺ , MgO ⁺ , and NeO ⁺ are calculated, which are then employed in quantum scattering calculations. Collision cross sections at low-energy (up to 10 eV) are calculated, and corresponding rate coefficients are determined for temperatures up to 10000 K. These data allow for accurate consideration of these processes in astrophysical models. The role of these processes in the O/Si/S and O/Ne/Mg zones of the ejecta of supernovae and their impact on spectrum formation in SN 1987A are discussed through comparisons with competing processes. The analysis suggests that the charge transfer processes with Si and S are likely to be significant in the O/Si/S zone, while the processes involving Mg and Ne are unlikely to have significant effects in the O/Ne/Mg zone.
SN - 0004-6361
SN - 1432-0746
ER -