Plasma environment effects on K lines of astrophysical interest II. Ionization potentials, K thresholds, radiative rates, and Auger widths in Ne- through He-like iron ions (Fe XVII - Fe XXV)

Aims. In the context of accretion disks around black holes, we estimate plasma-environment effects on the atomic parameters associated with the decay of K-vacancy states in highly charged iron ions, namely Fe XVII - Fe XXV. Methods. Within the relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac-Rock (MCDF) framework, the electron-nucleus and electron-electron plasma screenings were approximated with a time-averaged Debye-Htickel potential. Results. Modified ionization potentials, K thresholds, wavelengths, radiative emission rates, and Auger widths are reported for astrophysical plasmas characterized by electron temperatures and densities in the ranges 10(5)-10(7) K and 10(18)-10(22) cm(-3), respectively. Conclusions. We conclude that the high-resolution microcalorimeters on board future X-ray missions such as XRISM and ATHENA are expected to be sensitive to the lowering of the iron K edge due to the extreme plasma conditions occurring in accretion disks around compact objects.