Inelastic electron collisions with Rydberg atoms |
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Authors: | P V Kashtanov M I Myasnikov B M Smirnov |
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Institution: | (1) Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127412, Russia |
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Abstract: | The standard classical method of computer simulation is used for evaluation of the inelastic cross section in electron collisions
with a highly excited (Rydberg) atom. In the course of collision, the incident and bound electrons move along classical trajectories
in the Coulomb field of the nucleus, and the scattering parameters are averaged over many initial conditions. The reduced
ionization cross section of a Rydberg atom by electron impact approximately corresponds to that of atoms in the ground states
with valence s-electrons and coincides with the results of the previous Monte Carlo calculations. The cross section of an atom transition
between Rydberg atom states as a result of electron impact is used for finding the stepwise ionization rate constant of atoms
in collisions with electrons or the rate constant of three-body electron-ion recombination in a dense ionized gas because
these processes are determined by kinetics of highly excited atom states. Surprisingly, the low-temperature limit of electron
temperatures is realized when the electron thermal energy is lower than the atom ionization potential by about three orders
of magnitude, as follows from the kinetics of excited atom states.
The article is published in the original. |
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