K-alpha X-rays from cosmic-ray oxygen

Equilibrium charge fractions are calculated for subrelativistic cosmic-ray oxygen ions in the interstellar medium. These are used to determine the expected flux of K-alpha rays arising from atomic processes for a number of different postulated interstellar oxygen spectra. Relation of these results to the diffuse X-ray background measured at the appropriate energy (about 0.6 keV) suggests an observable broadened line feature.