Ideas and Tools for Error Detection in Opacity Databases

Abstract

In this article, we propose several ideas and tools in order to check the reliability of radiative opacity and atomic physics databases. We first emphasize that it can be useful to verify that mathematical inequalities, which impose lower and upper bounds on the Rosseland and/or Planck mean opacities, are satisfied, either for pure elements or mixtures. In the second part, we discuss the intriguing law of anomalous numbers, also named Benford’s law, which enables one to detect errors in line-strength collections, required in order to perform fine-structure calculations. Finally, we point out and illustrate the importance of quantifying the uncertainties due to interpolations in the density-temperature opacity (or more generally atomic-data) tables and performing convergence checks, which are crucial in the accuracy-completeness compromise inherent in opacity computations.