Plasma Atomic Physics provides an overview of the elementary
processes within atoms and ions in plasmas, and introduces readers to
the language of atomic spectra and light emission, allowing them to
explore the various and fascinating radiative properties of matter.
The book familiarizes readers with the complex quantum-mechanical
descriptions of electromagnetic and collisional processes, while also
developing a number of effective qualitative models that will allow them
to obtain adequately comprehensive descriptions of collisional-radiative
processes in dense plasmas, dielectronic satellite emissions and
autoionizing states, hollow ion X-ray emissions, polarized atoms and
ions, hot electrons, charge exchange, atomic population kinetics, and
radiation transport. Numerous applications to plasma spectroscopy and
experimental data are presented, which concern magnetic confinement
fusion, inertial fusion, laser-produced plasmas, and X-ray free-electron
lasers' interaction with matter.
Particular highlights include the development of quantum kinetics to a
level surpassing the almost exclusively used quasi-classical approach in
atomic population kinetics, the introduction of the recently developed
Quantum-F-Matrix-Theory (QFMT) to study the impact of plasma microfields
on atomic populations, and the Enrico Fermi equivalent photon method to
develop the "Plasma Atom", where the response properties and oscillator
strength distribution are represented with the help of a local plasma
frequency of the atomic electron density.
Based on courses held by the authors, this material will assist students
and scientists studying the complex processes within atoms and ions in
different kinds of plasmas by developing relatively simple but highly
effective models. Considerable attention is paid to a number of
qualitative models that deliver physical transparency, while extensive
tables and formulas promote the practical and useful application of
complex theories and provide effective tools for non-specialist
readers.
