Analysis of Efficiencies of Electron Capture by Ions into Rydberg States and Inelastic n → n' Transitions in Plasma of Inert Gas Mixtures

Abstract

A comparative analysis of efficiencies of the resonant and nonresonant mechanisms of electron capture by ions into Rydberg states of Xe(n) atoms and inelastic n → n' transitions between highly excited levels in the inert Rg/Xe gas mixture plasma that contains atomic (Xe+) and molecular (RgXe+ and Xe$$_{2}^{ + }$$) ions (Rg = Ne, Ar, and Kr, [Xe] $$ \ll $$ [Rg]) is carried out. The rate constants of resonant electron capture by Xe+ ions in triple collisions with Rg($$^{1}{{S}_{0}}$$) atoms of an inert gas and dissociative recombination of heteronuclear (RgXe+) and homonuclear (Xe$$_{2}^{ + }$$) ions are calculated based on our approach developed within the framework of the theory of nonadiabatic transitions between electron terms of the RgXe+ + e system. For the alternative mechanism of three-particle electron capture by Xe+ ions in collisions with Ne, Ar, and Kr atoms, the rate constants are calculated in the impulse approximation with account for the short-range and polarization electron–atom interactions. The rate constants of three-particle electron capture by ions and n → n' transitions in collisions with electrons are calculated using known theoretical models. Ranges of plasma ionization degrees, plasma electron and gas temperatures, and principle quantum number of Xe atom where resonant free–bound and bound–bound electron transitions play a key role are established.