Bremsstrahlung spectra for Al, Cs, and Au atoms in high-temperature, high-density plasmas

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.32.1693· OSTI ID:5344721

Kim, L; Pratt, R H; Tseng, H K

Results are presented from a numerical calculation for the bremsstrahlung spectrum and Gaunt factors of Al, Cs, and Au atoms in high-temperature (-T), high-density (-rho) plasmas. Plasma temperatures kT = 0.1 and 1.0 keV and plasma densities rho = rho/sub 0/ (the normal solid density) and rho = 100rho/sub 0/ are considered. This allows us to determine the generality and identify the origins of features which we had previously identified in calculations for Cs. We also now present results for the total energy loss of an electron in such a plasma. We use a relativistic multipole code which treats the bremsstrahlung process as a single-electron transition in a static screened central potential. We take for the static potential corresponding to an atom in a hot dense plasma the finite-temperature, finite-density Thomas-Fermi model. This approach corresponds to an average atom in local thermodynamic equilibrium. In comparison to isolated-neutral-atom results we observe general suppression of cross sections and a particular suppression in the tip region of the spectrum. Within this model, both superscreening and shape resonances are found in the circumstances of extreme density. At more normal densities and except for the soft-photon end, the spectrum at these energies for an atom in a hot plasma (characterized by an average degree of ionization) can be well represented by the spectrum of the corresponding isolated ion, which has a similar potential shape at the distances which characterize the process.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
• OSTI ID: 5344721
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 32:3; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700105* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical-- (-1987)
ALKALI METALS
ALUMINIUM
ATOMIC MODELS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CESIUM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FERMIONS
GOLD
HOT PLASMA
LEPTONS
LOSSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA
POTENTIALS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
THOMAS-FERMI MODEL
TRANSITION ELEMENTS