The Iron Project \& Opacity Project: Photoionization, radiative transitions of iron ions for Opacities and Astrophysical Applications

We have carried out converged close coupling R-Matrix (CCC-RM) calculations for photoionization of Ne-like Fe~XVII and demonstrate orders-of-magnitude enhancements in cross section due to successive core excitations. Convergence criteria are: (i) inclusion of sufficient number of residual ion Fe~XVIII core states, (ii) high-resolution of myriad autoionizing resonances, and (iii) high-energy cross sections. We discuss verification of the conventional oscillator strength sum-rule in limited energy regions for bound-free plasma opacity. High energy cross sections are also under investigation. In order to obtain solar iron opacity at the boundary of the radiative and convection zones, we have studied the residual ion states that should provide convergence of resonances of other L-shell iron ions, Fe~XIV - Fe XX, in the plasma region. Preliminary results from R-matrix calculations of photoionization cross sections will be reported.