Some O I oscillator strengths and the interstellar abundance of oxygen

Calculated and experimental oscillator strengths for the O I intersystem line at 1356 A and for other O I lines of interest in interstellar absorption-line studies are discussed. Attention is given to experimental f-values for the lines at 1302, 1305, and 1306 A, previous work on the f-values for the lines at 1356 and 1359 A, wave-function expansion, and calculations for permitted as well as intercombination lines. Copernicus observations of several interstellar absorption lines due to O I, C II, P II, and Ni II toward Zeta Oph are reported, equivalent widths are determined, and a curve-of-growth analysis is performed for the O I absorption lines. Oscillator strengths are recommended for the far-UV resonance lines of O I, and it is concluded that the oxygen in the interstellar H I regions toward Zeta Oph is depleted by 45% to 69%.