Features of the chemical models of a nonideal atomic plasma at high temperatures

Abstract

The equation of state for a hydrogen plasma at high temperatures is considered in a physical and a chemical model. A simple expression is obtained that relates the pressure correction in chemical models to the high-temperature limit of the atom partition function. This expression ensures a correct asymptotic behavior of the equation of state in the high-temperature limit. It is explained why the familiar astrophysical model of Hummer, Mihalas, and Dappen, as applied to helioseismology, yields worse results than a physical model. A modification of the astrophysical model is proposed that makes it possible to use the nearest neighbor approximation to calculate the atom partition function in chemical models in solving astrophysical problems and problems concerning low-temperature plasmas.