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Theoretical Hei Line Intensities In Gaseous Nebulae: Ngc 1976, 6572 And Ic 4997, J. B. Kingdon, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Smits has recently calculated theoretical He I intensities for a large number of lines for conditions appropriate to gaseous nebulae. These are likely to remain the definitive calculations for some time to come. A comparison of these line ratios with observed values in three nebulae reveals some discrepancies. We show that these discrepancies are reduced when collisional effects from the metastable 2₃S level are included, and that it is not necessary to invoke an unknown depopulation mechanism for the He I2₃S level.