Effect of strongly coupled plasma on the doubly excited states of heliumlike ions

The effect of strongly coupled plasma occurring in astrophysical context has been studied for the first time to estimate the energy levels of the autoionizing states of highly stripped astrophysically important ions Al¹¹⁺, Si¹²⁺, P¹³⁺, S¹⁴⁺ and Cl¹⁵⁺ and also C⁴⁺ isoelectronic to helium. The transition energies corresponding to 1s ²:¹S^e → 2s ²:¹S^e, 2p ²:¹D^e, 2s2p:¹P^o, 2s3d:¹D^e and 2p3d:¹F^o are analyzed with respect to different plasma densities using the ion sphere (IS) model of strongly coupled plasma. Transition energies are obtained from the position of the poles of a variational functional based on frequency dependent perturbation calculation probing the collective oscillation modes of the plasma embedded two electron ions. For the free ions corresponding to zero plasma coupling our calculated data agree well with those obtained from spectroscopic data while for the plasma embedded ions the data are new but follow systematic trend. The work has been performed in the domain of linear response theory. The analytical wave function of the doubly excited states have been obtained and may be useful for calculating various transition properties of the plasma embedded ions and also for estimating the rate coefficients for dielectronic recombination processes which play a major role in maintaining equilibrium in high temperature astrophysical or laser produced plasmas.     

Population of 2p 55s levels of neon in He-Ne plasma: I. The evolution of mechanisms in the discharge and the afterglow

The spectroscopic study of population processes of neon 2p ⁵5s states was carried out in helium afterglow with small admixture of neon at PHe = 38.1 torr, [He]/[Ne]=10^?5 with pulsed discharge afterglow in helium with small admixture of neon (pressure equal to 38.1 mm Hg; ). It is established that the main mechanism of population of 3s ₂ level (in Paschen’s notation) in the discharge and the initial after-glow is the excitation transfer from metastable atoms of He(2¹ S ₀). The other three levels—3s ₃, 3s ₄, and 3s ₅—corresponding to 2p ⁵5s configuration are populated in the afterglow as a result of the dissociative recombination HeNe⁺ of ions with electrons. The same process is also the main channel of population of 3s ₂ level in the late afterglow phase, when the concentration of He(2¹ S ₀) atoms is small. The hypothesis of recombination mechanism is confirmed by observation of the response of line intensities to pulsed electron heating. The partial coefficients of dissociative recombination into 2p ⁵5s states are estimated.     

Single-electron charge transfer and excitations at collisions between Bi<Superscript>4+</Superscript> ions in the kiloelectronvolt energy range

Pioneering theoretical data for single-electron charge transfer and excitations due to collisions between Bi⁴⁺ ions in the ground (6s) and metastable (6p) states are gained in the collision energy interval 5–75 keV in the center-of-mass frame. The cross sections of the processes are calculated in terms of the close-coupling method in the basis of two-electron quasi-molecular states for the Coulomb trajectory of nuclei. It is found that single-electron capture into the singlet 6s ² states of Bi³⁺ ions makes a major contribution to the charge transfer total cross section for Bi⁴⁺(6s) + Bi⁴⁺(6s) collisions (reaction 1), whereas single-electron capture into the singlet 6s6p states is the basic contributor to the total cross section in Bi⁴⁺(6s) + Bi⁴⁺(6p) collisions (reaction 2). In the collision energy interval mentioned above, the collision cross sections vary between 1.2 × 10^?17 and 1.9 × 10^?17 cm² for reaction 1 and between 3.8 × 10^?17 and 5.3 × 10^?17 cm² for reaction 2. In reaction 1, the 6s → 6p excitation cross sections vary from 0.6 × 10^?16 to 0.8 × 10^?16 cm² for the singlet channel and from 2.2 × 10^?16 to 2.8 × 10^?16 cm² for the triplet channel. The calculation results are compared with the data obtained in experiments with crossed ion beams of kiloelectronvolt energy. The fraction of metastable ions in the beams is estimated by comparing the experimental data with the weighted average theoretical results for the cross sections of reactions 1 and 2. From the data for the charge transfer cross sections, one can estimate particle losses in relativistic beams due to a change in the charge state of the ions colliding with each other in the beam because of betatron oscillations.     

等离子体屏蔽效应对原子能级和振子强度的影响

利用Debye模型,研究了等离子体屏蔽效应对热等离子体中原子能级和振子强度的影响.通过在MCDF模型中引入等离子体屏蔽效应,计算了MnXXII-BrXXII等11个类Be离子在等离子体环境下2s²—［2s_1/2,2p_1/2］₁和2s²—［2s_1/2,2p_3/2］₁跃迁的能级和振子强度.计算结果表明,等离子体屏蔽效应使得类Be离子2s²—［2s_1/2,2p_1/2］₁跃迁的激发能量增大,从而导致谱线蓝移现象;并且随着屏蔽效应的不断增强,蓝移的程度会逐渐加大.屏蔽效应对于2s²—［2s_1/2,2p_3/2］₁跃迁的振子强度也有类似的影响. 关键词： Debye 等离子体屏蔽 跃迁能级 振子强度     

Z-dependences of atomic characteristics of ions in Be- and O-isoelectronic sequences (2s−2p transition)

Transition energies and probabilities are presented for ions of the Be(Z = 4?100) and O(Z = 8?100) isoelectronic sequences. Dipole transitions are considered between all low-lying states constructed from 2s², 2s2p, and 2p² configuration in the case of Be-like ions, and between all low lying states from 2s²2p⁴, 2s2p⁵, and 2p⁶ configurations in the case of O-like ions. The calculations are based on the $\text{1}\text{Z}$ expansion technique and are carried out in the intermediate coupling scheme. Relativistic effects are incorporated using the Breit operator. For Z > 40, it is shown that jj-coupling is applicable. Results of the present calculations are compared with those of other authors over a broad range of nuclear charges.     

Screened self-energy correction to the 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Subscript>3/2</Subscript>-2<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> transition energy in Li-like ions

We present an ab initio calculation of the screened self-energy correction for 1s² 2p_3/2 and 1s² 2s states of Li-like ions with nuclear charge numbers in the range Z = 12?100. The evaluation is carried out to all orders in the nuclear strength parameter Zα. This investigation concludes our calculations of all two-electron QED corrections for the 2p_3/2-2s transition energy in Li-like ions and thus considerably improves theoretical predictions for this transition for high-Z ions.     

Measurement of the lifetime of the3 P 2 and4 P 5/2 states in Ar16+ and Ar15+

Promptly decaying levels in Li- and Be-like Ar could be identified in the delayed x-ray and electron spectrum in addition to the four known metastable (1s2s)¹ S ₀, (1s2s)³ S ₁, (1s2p)³ P ₂, and (1s2s2p)⁴ P _5/2 states in He- and Li-like systems. The states having lifetimes of about 10^?14s still contribute to the spectrum observed 10^?9s after the ions have passed a foil. This observation is explained by cascading processes from states of high principal quantum numbern≧14. The measured lifetime of the⁴ P _5/2 state subtracting the contribution of cascades is (0.594±0.016) ns and slightly larger than the theoretically predicted value of 0.563 ns. The³ P ₂ state is depopulated at short distances behind the foil by cascading processes. Its measured lifetime of (1.44±0.08) ns compares to a theoretical value of 1.48 ns.     

Partial cross sections for Rb− photodetachment in the region of the Rb(5p 2 P 1/2 3/2) thresholds and their analysis by multichannel quantum defect theory

A crossed ion-laser beam apparatus has been used to measure accurate relative total and partial cross sections for photodetachment from Rb^? ions with high photon energy resolution (0.1–0.6 cm^?1) in the region of the Rb(5p ² P _1/2,3/2) thresholds (photon energy range 16,350–16,820 cm^?1). Satisfactory fits to these data by multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) have been obtained, resulting in a reliable set of seven MQDT parameters. The electron angular distribution parameter for the Rb(5_s) channel was found to beβ(5s)=2, independent of photon energy. MQDT predicts a sharp, window-type variation of?(5s) around the minimum of the 5s-cross section below the Rb(5p ² P _1/2) threshold (where an accurate experimental measurement ofβ(5s) was not possible) and a similar behaviour ofβ(6s) in the case of Cs^?photodetachment below the Cs(6p ² P _1/2) threshold.     

Stark effect,hyperfine structure and isotope shifts in highly excited states of BaI and CaI

The electric dipole polarizabilities of 9 even-parity barium states (6s8s ¹ S ₀,³ S ₁; 6s7d ¹ D ₂,³ D _1,2; 5d7s ¹ D ₂ and 6p ^{2 3} P _0,1,2) in the interval 33,800–35,800 cm^?1 have been measured with high resolution laser-atomic-beam spectroscopy. Simultaneously, values of isotope shifts and hyperfine coupling constants for theJ=1 states have been obtained. Comparison of the experimental polarizabilities with calculated values as well as inspection of the data on isotope shifts and hyperfine structure from the present and earlier work strongly suggests erroneous assignments of theJ=2 states, with an exception for the 5d 7s ¹ D ₂ state. The influence of an electric field on the 3d ^{2 3} P _0,1,2 states of calcium has also been studied. A marked departure from a quadratic Stark effect has been observed at relatively small field strengths. This can be attributed to the large polarizabilities of neighbouring Rydberg states. The low field data allow the determination of admixtures of Rydberg states into the 3d ^{2 3} P-states as small as 0.02%.     

Theoretical study of photoionization of the isoelectronic sequence Rb<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, and Y<Superscript>3+</Superscript>

The photoionization cross sections for the 4p shell of ions of the Kr isoelectronic sequence Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, and Y³⁺ are calculated. The configuration interaction theory and the perturbation theory are used to describe the many-electron effects. The relativistic effects are taken into account in the Pauli-Fock approximation. The calculated resonance structure of photoionization cross sections for the 4p shell in the region below the 4s threshold associated with the autoionization of the 4s-np singly excited states and the 4p4p-nln′l′ doubly excited states reproduces the results of recent measurements of total photoabsorption cross sections for the Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, and Y³⁺ ions. It is found that, as the nuclear charge in the isoelectronic sequence increases, the ratio between the direct and correlation parts of amplitudes of the 4s-(n/?)p transition changes and, as the consequence, the minimum of the photoionization cross section of the 4s shell shifts from the continuous spectrum to the region of states of discrete spectrum. This accounts for the strong changes in the shape of the 4s-np resonances in the photoionization cross sections for the 4p shell of Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, and Y³⁺, as well as the distinction between the shapes of the 4s-6p _1/2 mirror resonance in the partial 4p _1/2 and 4p _3/2 photoionization cross sections for the Y³⁺ ion which do not suppress each other in the total photoionization cross section, as is the case for similar resonances in Rb⁺ and Sr²⁺.     

Calculation of Xe II line strengths and radiative lifetimes in intermediate coupling

Line strengths for 5s ² 5p ⁴ 6s?5s ² 5p ⁴ 6p transition in xenon are calculated in intermediate coupling scheme. The parametric potential method is used in calculating the radial part of the wave functions while the method of least squares fit of energy levels is applied in obtaining the angular part of the wave functions. Lifetimes of the 6p states obtained using these methods show a good agreement with data from electron-impact experiments.     

Energy Levels of Doubly Excited States in Argon

Term energies of doubly excited states in argon and argon ions have been determined using single-configuration Hartree-Fock calculation. The energies calculated for KL3s3p⁶nl and KL3s⁶3p⁴nln1 states of Ar show a fairly good agreement with the experimental results obtained by various techniques. However, for Ar+, Ar²+, Ar²+ and Ar³+ states there are no experimental data available in the literature for comparison.     

Quantum electrodynamic calculation of interelectron interaction for He-like and Li-like multiply charged ions

Exact quantum-electrodynamic calculations of the interelectron interaction corrections are performed for the 1s _1/22s _1/2 ¹ S ₀, 1s _1/22p _1/2 ³ P ₀, and 1s _1/22s _1/2 ³ S ₁ configurations in He-like ions and for the (1s _1/2)²2s _1/2 and (1s _1/2)²2p _1/2 configurations in Li-like ions for all charges of nuclei 10≤Z≤92. The calculations are performed in the Coulomb calibration. The Coulomb-Coulomb and the Coulomb-Breit parts are calculated exactly, and the Breit-Breit part of the correction is calculated by neglecting the retardation. The calculations are the most exact of those available by now.     

Relative Anfangsbesetzungszahlen der Zustände 2p und 3d folienangeregter Wasserstoffatome

The Lyman-α radiation of fast moving hydrogen atoms excited by a thin carbon foil is measured using a channel electron multiplier with a Mg F₂ filter. The photonintensity-versus-distance curve exhibits the 2p (1.596 ns) decay followed by a cascade tail originating mainly from the 3d level (15.47 ns). The data is analyzed by a computer program using the known mean lives of the 2p, 3d, and 3s states and yields the relative initial state populationY=N _2p ⁰ N _{3 d} ⁰ which depends on the kind of incident ions (H⁺ or H₂ ⁺). For H₂ ⁺ ions, excited with a single foil, there might be a slight dependence ofY on the beam velocity, but for H⁺ ions incident on the foil, no such dependence is found.     

Charge exchange and excitation cross sections at collisions of alpha particles with be-like impurity oxygen ions in a plasma

The charge exchange and excitation cross sections at collisions of alphas with O⁴⁺(1s ²2s ²) impurity atoms in a hot plasma for striking energies E _c varying from 20 keV to 2 MeV are determined for the first time. The cross sections are calculated using the method of close-coupling equations with 13 singlet four-electron quasi-molecular states taken as a basis. The partial cross sections of charge transfer to the 1s, 2s, and 2p states of a He⁺ ion and for O⁴⁺(1s ²2s ²) → O⁴⁺(1s ²2lnl’) (n = 2, 3) electronic excitation of an oxygen ion are found. The maximal value of the charge exchange total cross section roughly equals 2.2 × 10^?16 cm² at E _c ≈ 0.7 MeV. The excitation total cross section has a maximum of ≈ 7.7 × 10^?16 cm² at E _c ≈ 80 keV for single-electron excitation and ≈6.5 × 10^?16 cm² at E _c ≈ 0.7 MeV for two-electron excitation.     

Spin-forbidden transitions between 2p 2 and 2s2p states in the beryllium isoelectronic sequence

Fine-structure splittings, wavelengths and transition probabilities are evaluated for transitions 2p ^{2 1} S ₀→2s2p ³ P ₁ ⁰, 2p ^{2 1} D ₂→2s2p ³ P _J ⁰ (J=1, 2) and 2p ^{2 3} P _J →2s2p ¹ P ₁ ⁰ (J =0, 1, 2) in beryllium-like ions using configuration interaction wavefunctions. Some significant differences with previous calculations are obtained. At present there are no experimental results. However, from calculations reported here it should clearly be worthwhile to search for these lines in laboratory and astrophysical spectra. The decay of the 2p ^{2 1} D ₂ level is discussed.     

Accurate core binding energies of ions from Dirac-Fock calculations combined with experimental atomic binding energies

Core binding energies are reported for the singly-charged alkali ions obtained by removing the outer s electron and for the singly-charged halide ions obtained by adding a P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} electron. The levels studied are Li 1s, Na 1s, K 2p, Rb 3p, Cs 3d, F 1s, Cl 2p, Br 3p and I 3d. The binding energies were obtained by combining DiracF?ock ΔSCF binding-energy shifts between the ions and the corresponding isoelectronic rare gases with experimental rare-gas binding energies, and also by combining the calculated atomīon shifts with experimental atomic binding energies where available. It is shown that the former approach corrects accurately for the correlation energy, which is not included in single-configuration calculations.     

Formation of doubly excited He atoms during scattering of He ions from a clean and oxygen covered Ni(1 1 0) surface

The formation of doubly excited states of He atoms during collisions of He²⁺ ions with energies between 60 eV and 1 keV with a Ni(1 1 0) surface is studied via Auger electron spectroscopy. We observe that the electron spectra from autoionization of doubly excited states of 2s², 2s2p, 2p² configurations show a pronounced dependence on the coverage of the target surface with oxygen. For a controlled O₂ adsorption on the Ni(1 1 0) surface we can explain the resulting changes in the electron spectra by the modification of the work function of the target surface. Thermal desorption and dissolution into the bulk of surface contaminations at elevated temperatures provides an alternative interpretation of recent work where the local electron spin polarization of a Ni(1 1 0) surface was deduced from changes in the electron spectra as function of target temperature.     

Finite nuclear size correction to vacuum polarization in hydrogen-like ions

The finite nuclear size corrections to the Dirac binding energy of an electron and to the vacuum polarization in hydrogen-like ions are considered. These corrections were calculated for the 1s _1/2, 2s _1/2, 2p _1/2, and 2p _3/2 states in a wide range of the nuclear charge Z = 1–100. The results obtained are compared with the available analytical data.     

The energy of thermal electrons in electron beam created helium discharges

We have measured the electron energy of the thermal group of electrons in both longitudinal and transverse electron beam created helium glow discharges. The measurement technique employs the ratio of intensities of spectral lines in the 2s³S?np³P He I series. Values of kT_e between 0.07 and 0.11 eV were obtained. These energies are typical of the beam-generated electric field free plasmas. The competitive loss of helium ions by recombination and by charge transfer in a He?Hg electron beam created plasma is calculated. The results are applied to the Hg⁺ laser pumping scheme using a electron beam created He?Hg plasma.