Abstract
The Oppenheimer-Penney theory, as developed by Percival and Seaton (1958), is applied to calculate the polarization of resonance lines from Li-like ions. Two laws for the pitch-angle distribution of electrons around the magnetic field are accounted. The degrees of polarization are averaged over the energy of non-thermal electrons generated during the initial phase of solar flares. It is found that for the full space pitch-angle distribution, as adopted by Chandra and Joshi (1984), the degrees of polarization are nearly independent of the atomic number of ion. Whereas for the forward-come distribution used by Haug (1981), they depend on the choice of the free parameterE 0. The polarization of the resonance lines from Li-like ions is two times larger than that of the Lα radiations from H-like ions. Hence, under favourable conditions, it may be detected during solar flares.
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Chandra, S., Joshi, A.W. Electron impact polarization of resonance lines from Lithium-like ions. Astrophys Space Sci 138, 333–339 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00637854
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00637854