Dipole and generalized oscillator strengths-dependent electronic properties of helium atoms immersed in a plasma

Abstract

Atoms subjected to extreme environmental conditions are of fundamental importance due to the modification of their electronic properties. In this work, we study the helium atom when immersed in a plasma environment. In order to describe the plasma medium, we use two models when solving the Schrodinger equation in a restricted Hartree–Fock approach: the Debye–Huckel screened (DHS) potential and a more general exponential-cosine screened Coulomb (ECSC) potential. The plasma length parameter, $$\lambda $$ , in both model potentials characterizes the plasma screening effects which cause an increase or decrease in the electronic properties of the helium atom. We report results for the total electronic ground state energy, orbital energy, dipole oscillator strengths, generalized oscillator strengths (GOS), mean excitation energy, electrostatic dipole polarizability, and electronic stopping cross section. We find that the ECSC plasma model produces a less bound system than the DHS plasma model at the same value of the screening length, $$\lambda $$ . However, the ECSC model potential has a stronger dipole transition from the 1s to the 2p and 3p states than the DHS model potential. Also, the ECSC potential predicts a higher static dipole polarizability than the DHS model potential, with a consequent lower mean excitation energy. We also find a larger GOS for the ECSC than for the DHS for the same momentum transfer at the same value of the screening length, $$\lambda $$ . Consequently, the ECSC mode potential produces a larger electronic stopping cross section than the DHS for the same $$\lambda $$ and projectile velocity. In the limit of $$\lambda \rightarrow \infty $$ , we have excellent agreement with the free helium properties. These quantitative values for the electronic properties would be useful for the investigations of the atomic structure and collisions of helium atoms immersed in plasmas.