M G Levashova 2008 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 41 035701 doi:10.1088/0953-4075/41/3/035701
M G Levashova
Show affiliationsA novel algorithm is developed for computing the radiative cascade, in energy E and angular momentum M space, of electrons in Rydberg atoms, disturbed by Coulomb collisions of bound electrons with plasma particles. The problem is treated with a quasi-classical radiative–collisional model. In the limiting case of purely radiative cascade, the computed electron distribution function is shown to be in agreement with quantum computations. The effect of collisions on the radiative cascade is analysed for a selective, in quantum numbers, source of atomic level population, which enabled us to trace the diffusion, in EM space, of a single trajectory of the classical radiative cascade. The results are demonstrated for astrophysical hydrogen plasmas (Ne ~ 103 cm−3, Te ~ 1 eV) and highly charged heavy impurity ions in tokamak plasmas (Ne ~ 1013 cm−3, Te ~ 2 keV).
52.25.Dg Plasma kinetic equations
52.72.+v Laboratory studies of space- and astrophysical-plasma processes
31.15.-p Calculations and mathematical techniques in atomic and molecular physics
Issue 3 (14 February 2008)
Received 6 November 2007, in final form 15 December 2007
Published 24 January 2008
M G Levashova 2008 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 41 035701