Recombination in dense plasmas

Abstract

Calculations for He+-like ions of charge Z=1 and 10 indicate that the effects of continuum lowering upon the total rate of recombination of plasma ions are important when the plasma temperature (K) and density satisfy the inequality Ne>1014ZT cm-3. The calculations also show that collisional interruption of the dielectronic recombination process does not significantly alter the net recombination rate, but that it can substantially reduce the intensities of satellite X-ray lines. As examples, helium-like satellite lines produced by C+4 and Na+9 are considered in detail.