Laboratory X-ray astrophysics at ultrabrilliant light sources with PolarX-EBIT

Abstract The x-ray spectra recorded with high-resolution spectrometers onboard satellite observatories contain valuable information about a wide range of different hot astrophysical environments. However, our ability to extract this information is currently often limited by the availability and accuracy of atomic data, as they are the foundation of plasma models. This is especially true for highly charged ions, ever-present in hot astrophysical plasmas. Laboratory x-ray spectroscopy experiments can provide the urgently needed data and benchmark atomic structure theories. PolarX-EBIT, a compact transportable electron beam ion trap based on permanent magnets, is used to provide targets of trapped highly charged ions for photon beams from ultrabrilliant synchrotron light sources. Resonant photoexcitation experiments have yielded atomic data for various highly charged ion species with unprecedented accuracy. Here, we provide a review of the capabilities of PolarX-EBIT, especially its transportability and off-axis electron gun, and the connected astrophysics-related research activities.