Complex atomic spectral line shapes in the presence of an external magnetic field.

Abstract

Both the theoretical basis and the computational approach for extending the capabilities of an established spectral line broadening code are presented. By following standard line broadening theory, the effects of an external magnetic field are incorporated into the plasma average and atomic Hamiltonian. An external magnetic field introduces a preferential axis that destroys the symmetry of the quasistatic electric ion microfield. An external magnetic field also modifies the angular properties of the atomic Hamiltonian-atomic energy levels are perturbed and the spectral emission line is polarized. These extensions have been incorporated in an atomic line shape code for complex atoms and applied to several problems of importance to the understanding of tokamak edge plasmas. Applications fall into two broad categories: (1) determination of local plasma properties, such as the magnetic field strength, from distinct line shape features; and (2) consideration of global plasma phenomenon, such as radiation transport. Observable features of the Zeeman effect make H(alpha) a good line for diagnosing the magnetic field. H(beta) does not make a good electron density diagnostic since the Zeeman effect is comparable to the Stark effect for a majority of tokamak edge plasma conditions. For optically thick lines, the details of the spectral line shapes are shown to significantly influence the transport of radiation throughout the system.