Effects of Atomic Structure on the Radiation Dynamics of an Optically Thick Plasma.
Abstract
A theoretical model has been developed to calculate the effects of atomic level structure on the ionization and radiation dynamics of high-density, high-temperature plasmas. The model solves time-dependent rate equations to calculate the population densities of excited states in a stationary, homogeneous, uniformly-heated volume of plasma. The transport and reabsorption of emitted radiation in an optically thick plasma are modeled phenomenologically with a formalism based on frequency diffusion of the photons. This radiation transport model has been used to obtain preliminary results for comparisons between optically thin and optically thick plasmas. Also, an extensive analysis of several methods for generating electron-ion collisional excitation rates for K-shell ions is presented, as well as a study of the effects of ion-ion collisions on the level populations for relevant plasma conditions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA060957
Entities
People
- D. Duston
- Jack F. Davis
- K. G. Whitney
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory