Importance of spectator satellites in 3d–4f3d–4f X-ray spectra from highly charged xenon atomic ions

Spectator satellites play an important role in the construction of X-ray spectra from highly charged xenon plasmas. Multi-configuration Dirac–Fock (MCDF) calculations have been carried out for 3d–4f3d–4f transitions of ions from Xe XXV to Xe XXX. The spectator satellites of 3d–4f3d–4f transitions between states with multiple electron excitations have been calculated extensively for comparison with results from experiment. The contribution of the spectator satellites is found to be indispensable in theoretically reproducing experimental spectra in the wavelength range from 12.5 Å to 15.5 Å.