Electron-impact ionization of atoms in high-temperature dense plasmas

Abstract

Electron-impact ionization cross sections for atoms in high-temperature dense plasmas are calculated in a configuration-average distorted-wave method. For those conditions in which the Coulomb coupling parameter is small, we use the Debye-H\"uckel potential to screen the projectile electron from the nucleus and target electrons. Ionization cross sections are calculated for both ${\text{Ne}}^{4+}$ and ${\text{Au}}^{47+}$ at high temperatures and various electron densities up to $1.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{25}\text{ }{\text{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. In general we find that as the density increases, the ionization cross section decreases at all incident energies. We also find that as the charge on the atomic ion becomes larger, the relative density effect becomes smaller.