Experimental Excitation Rate Coefficients for Ne VIII Ions

From the line emission of a pure neon plasma produced in a theta pinch discharge rate coefficients for the excitation of the n = 3 and 4 levels in Ne VIII ions are derived and compared with theoretical calculations and previous measurements. The general agreement between theory and all measurements is rather satisfactory for the excitation to the n = 3 levels, the measured rate coefficients to the 4 p and 4 d levels, however, being consistently too low.