Plasma non-ideality effects on the photon–electron scattering contribution to radiative opacities

Abstract

Photon–electron scattering (Compton and Thomson scattering) can be a significant contribution to plasma radiative opacities under conditions where the atoms in the plasma are fully ionized. For high plasma densities and low temperatures, plasma non-ideality effects due to strong coupling and electron degeneracy can lead to a reduction in the amount of photon scattering expected as compared to the ideal Compton scattering case. In the present work, we will examine some of the consequences of these non-idealities and evaluate their effects on the frequency dependent and Rosseland mean opacity. We will examine electron screening and other plasma collective effects as well as electron degeneracy as it effects both initial and final scattering states. We will examine lowest order corrections to existing scattering formulae and discuss the consequences of the next highest order corrections. Comparisons will be made with existing Los Alamos National Laboratory opacity tables for hydrogen for some specific cases where these effects produce significant changes in the Rosseland means.