Dielectronic recombination: an introduction

Conference · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5837925

Datz, S

Atoms contained in hot plasmas such as those found in stellar coronae and controlled fusion devices are subject to intense bombardment by electrons whose energy distribution is characterized by the plasma temperature. Collisions can cause multiple ionization of the atom and the electrons may also recombine with the ion. The distribution of ion charge states in a plasma at a given temperature depends upon the competing rates of ionization and recombination. When an unbound electron recombines the gain in potential energy must be removed in some way. Two processes are known to be important in recombination: radiative recombination (RR) in which a photon is released whose energy is exactly equal to the potential energy gain, and dielectronic recombination (DR) in which a continuum electron excites a previously bound electron and in so doing loses just enough energy to be captured into a bound state (nl). The latter process results in a doubly excited ion in a lower charge state which may either auto-ionize or emit a photon resulting in a stabilized recombination.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5837925
• Report Number(s): CONF-830706-4; ON: DE83015738
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640301* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
ATOMS
BOUND STATE
CARBON IONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
HELIUM IONS
HOT PLASMA
IONS
IRON IONS
PLASMA
RECOMBINATION
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES