Reexamination of the metal contribution to astrophysical opacity

Abstract

Results from a new opacity code are presented which show that the Rosseland mean opacity for metals (atomic number of greater than 2) is significantly larger than the standard opacity for densities and temperatures important to Cepheid models. A large part of the difference is due to an improved treatment of the atomic phsyics. Spectral line broadening effects are found to be important.