3D Radiative Transfer of Lyman-series Lines with SKIRT

Abstract

Context. High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy and polarimetry provided by XRISM and IXPE offer new diagnostics of the geometry and kinematics of photo-ionised plasmas around compact objects. Interpreting reprocessed X-ray emission in such systems requires full three-dimensional radiative transfer (3D RT) including photon-ion interactions. Aims. We extend the Monte Carlo (MC) RT code SKIRT by implementing the Lyman-series lines of H-like ions, enabling self-consistent modelling of resonance scattering, radiative recombination, and polarisation of these lines in X-ray photo-ionised plasmas. Methods. We implemented Lyman-series transitions (up to $n=10$) for ions with $Z=$1--30, including fine-structure splitting and linear polarisation in resonance scattering. Two channels for the production of the Lyman-series lines (resonance scattering and radiative recombination) are considered. Results. The implementation reproduces analytical expectations and shows good agreement with Cloudy. The SKIRT simulations naturally capture RT effects such as P Cygni profiles and line-profile distortion in optically thick media, which are inaccessible to the conventional 1D RT codes commonly used in X-rays. In 3D geometries, we find that anisotropic illumination and velocity fields significantly modify the Lyman series line ratios and profiles, all of which are observable with XRISM. Conclusions. The extended version of SKIRT provides a powerful framework for interpreting X-ray line spectra and polarisation from photo-ionised plasmas. It is particularly suited for constraining the geometry and velocity structure in the vicinity of compact objects in the XRISM and IXPE era.