Statistical dielectronic recombination rates for multielectron ions in plasma

• Published in: Journal of experimental and theoretical physics 2017-10, Vol.125 (4), p.663-678
• Main Authors: Demura, A. V., Leont’iev, D. S., Lisitsa, V. S., Shurygin, V. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic structure; ATOMS; Classical and Quantum Gravitation; CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; Comparative analysis; ELECTRON DENSITY; ELECTRON TEMPERATURE; Elementary Particles; Expenditures; Fermi-Dirac statistics; Genetic recombination; ION TEMPERATURE; Mathematical models; Nonlinear; Nuclear energy; Nuclear fusion; Nuclear physics; ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; PLASMA; Plasma temperature; Plasmas; Quantum Field Theory; RECOMBINATION; Relativity Theory; Soft Matter Physics; Solid State Physics; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; Statistical; Statistical methods; STATISTICAL MODELS; THOMAS-FERMI MODEL; TRAPPED ELECTRONS; Tungsten; TUNGSTEN IONS
• ISSN: 1063-7761; 1090-6509
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063776117090138

We describe the general analytic derivation of the dielectronic recombination (DR) rate coefficient for multielectron ions in a plasma based on the statistical theory of an atom in terms of the spatial distribution of the atomic electron density. The dielectronic recombination rates for complex multielectron tungsten ions are calculated numerically in a wide range of variation of the plasma temperature, which is important for modern nuclear fusion studies. The results of statistical theory are compared with the data obtained using level-by-level codes ADPAK, FAC, HULLAC, and experimental results. We consider different statistical DR models based on the Thomas–Fermi distribution, viz., integral and differential with respect to the orbital angular momenta of the ion core and the trapped electron, as well as the Rost model, which is an analog of the Frank–Condon model as applied to atomic structures. In view of its universality and relative simplicity, the statistical approach can be used for obtaining express estimates of the dielectronic recombination rate coefficients in complex calculations of the parameters of the thermonuclear plasmas. The application of statistical methods also provides information for the dielectronic recombination rates with much smaller computer time expenditures as compared to available level-by-level codes.