Effects of configuration interaction on the alignment of beryllium-like ions

The radiative electron capture into (initially) lithium-like ions is studied within the framework of the density matrix approach. Special attention is paid to the magnetic sublevel population of the residual ionic states which is described by a set of alignment parameters. Detailed calculations of these parameters have been performed for the capture into the 1s(2)2s3d(3/2) J(f) = 2 level of high-Z ions along the beryllium isoelectronic sequence. We devote special attention to the modifications in the many-electron case as opposed to singleelectron systems. The electron correlation leads to an enhancement of the alignment, which becomes more pronounced as the nuclear charge decreases and the electron-electron interaction gains in strength as compared to the electron-nucleus interaction.