We have used the AUTOSTRUCTURE code to carry out semirelativistic calculations for the dielectronic recombination of ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{79+}$ via the $2s_{1∕2}-2p_{1∕2}$ core excitation. We obtain excellent agreement between these semirelativistic results and measurements made at Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung, in particular, for the high angular momentum peak of the $2p_{1∕2}20l_j$ resonances. The factor of 3 underestimate in the result for this peak that was originally obtained by Mitnik et al., which has led some to conclude that only a fully relativistic approach can describe dielectronic recombination via high angular momenta in very heavy highly charged ions, are found to be in error.

• Received 7 August 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.70.054701