Cross-section and rate formulas for electron-impact ionization, excitation, deexcitation, and total depopulation of excited atoms

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Phys. Rev., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.22.940· OSTI ID:5056581

Vriens, L; Smeets, A H.M.

For electron-induced ionization, excitation, and de-excitation, mainly from excited atomic states, a detailed analysis is presented of the dependence of the cross sections and rate coefficients on electron energy and temperature, and on atomic parameters. A wide energy range is covered, including sudden as well as adiabatic collisions. By combining the available experimental and theoretical information, a set of simple analytical formulas is constructed for the cross sections and rate coefficients of the processes mentioned, for the total depopulation, and for three-body recombination. The formulas account for large deviations from classical and semiclassical scaling, as found for excitation. They agree with experimental data and with the theories in their respective ranges of validity, but have a wider range of validity than the separate theories. The simple analytical form further facilitates the application in plasma modeling.

• Research Organization: Philips Research Laboratories, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• OSTI ID: 5056581
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., A; (United States) Vol. 22:3; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DE-EXCITATION
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
IONIZATION
KINETICS