Electron impact collision strengths and spontaneous radiative decay ra
tes are calculated for Fe XI. The data pertain to the 48 levels of the
configurations 3s(2)3p(4), 3s3p(5), 3s(2)3p(3)3d, and 3p(6). Collisio
n strengths are calculated at three incident electron energies, 8.0, 1
6.0, and 24.0 Ry. Relative spectral line intensities are calculated fo
r all astrophysically important transitions. These are obtained by com
puting the excitation rate coefficients, i.e., the collision strengths
integrated over a Maxwellian electron distribution, and then solving
the equations of detailed balance for the populations of the 48 energy
levels, assuming a collisional excitation model and an electron tempe
rature of 1.3 x 10(6) K. This temperature is typical for Fe XI when fo
rmed in equilibrium by collisional ionization and recombination. Using
the excitation rate coefficients and the radiative decay rates, level
populations are computed for several electron densities and are given
in this paper. We also investigate the effects of proton excitation a
nd solar radiative excitation on the level populations and line intens
ities. Finally, the calculated relative line intensities are compared
with experimental solar intensities where available. (C) 1996 Academic
Press, Inc.