Relativistic Theoretical Calculation of O III: Radiative Transition Rates and the Bowen Mechanism in Planetary Nebulae

A full relativistic configuration interaction (RCI) calculation of transition energies and radiative transition rates involved in O III Bowen fluorescence mechanism is presented. The calculated ratios of transition line intensities are in good agreement with the observed ratios. The discrepancies between the RCI calculation and prediction based on LS coupling scheme show that a delicate balance between the electron correlations and the spin-orbital interactions should be important even for the low-Z O III ion.