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Thermal bremsstrahlung from high-temperature plasmas

Journal Article · · Astrophys. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/158068· OSTI ID:6821708

Analytic expressions are derived for the total bremsstrahlung energy-loss rate per unit volume and the spectral emission rate per unit volume and the spectral emission rate of a very hot (approx.10/sup 7/-10/sup 9/ K) plasma. At these temperatures the principal contribution to emission can be computed from the nonrelativistic limit of electron-ion bremsstrahlung in the Born approximation. Modifications to this rate are evaluated from (1) relativistic corrections to the thermal-electron velocity distribution function, (2) relativistic and spin corrections to the nonrelativistic electron-ion bremsstrahlung cross section, (3) electron-electron bremsstrahlung, and (4) first-order Born approximation corrections to electron-ion bremsstrahlung. Modifications (1), (2), and (3) are of relative order kT/mc/sup 2/, and modification (4) is of relative order (Ry/kT)/sup 1/2/; at 10/sup 8/ K, each is of order 10%.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego
OSTI ID:
6821708
Journal Information:
Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 238:3; ISSN ASJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English