The N III and O IV intersystem multiplets as density indicators for solar plasmas

The usefulness of the relative intensities of lines within the N III intersystem multiplet near 1750 A as an electron density indicator for solar plasmas is discussed. Although the relative intensities of lines in the multiplet are density sensitive, the intensity ratios should at present be used with caution. Errors of the order of 20% in transition probabilities and excitation rate coefficients can lead to order of magnitude errors in density determinations. It is demonstrated that the intensity ratio of one of the N III intersystem lines and an allowed line from a different ion may also be used as a density indicator in the 10 to the 9th to 10 to the 11th per cu cm regime.