This book is devoted to the calculation of hot-plasma properties which generally requires a huge number of atomic data. It is the first book that combines information on the details of the basic atomic physics and its application to atomic spectroscopy with the use of the relevant statistical approaches. Information like energy levels, radiative rates, collisional and radiative cross-sections, etc., must be included in equilibrium or non-equilibrium models in order to describe both the atomic-population kinetics and the radiative properties. From the very large number of levels and transitions involved in complex ions, some statistical (global) properties emerge. The book presents a coherent set of concepts and compact formulas suitable for tractable and accurate calculations. The topics addressed are: radiative emission and absorption, and a dozen of other collisional and radiative processes; transition arrays between level ensembles (configurations, superconfigurations); effective temperatures of configurations, superconfigurations, and ions; charge-state distributions; radiative power losses and opacity. There are many numerical examples and comparisons with experiment presented throughout the book. The plasma properties described in this book are especially relevant to large nuclear fusion facilities such as the NIF (California) and the ITER (France), and to astrophysics. Methods relevant to the central-field configurational model are described in detail in the appendices: tensor-operator techniques, second-quantization formalism, statistical distribution moments, and the algebra of partition functions. Some extra tools are propensity laws, correlations, and fractals. These methods are applied to the analytical derivation of many properties, specially the global ones, through which the complexity is much reduced. The book is intended for graduate-level students, and for physicists working in the field.

The aim of this book is to provide the reader with a coherent and updated comprehensive treatise that covers the central subjects of the field. The style and content is suitable both for students and researchers. Highlights of the book include (among many others) the Ion-Sphere model, statistical models, Average-Atom model, emission spectrum, unresolved transition arrays, supertransition arrays, radiation transport, escape factors and x-ray lasers.

Advances in Atomic and Molecular Physics

Plasmas comprise more than 99% of the observable universe. They are important in many technologies and are key potential sources for fusion power. Atomic and radiation physics is critical for the diagnosis, observation and simulation of astrophysical and laboratory plasmas, and plasma physicists working in a range of areas from astrophysics, magnetic fusion, and inertial fusion utilise atomic and radiation physics to interpret measurements. This text develops the physics of emission, absorption and interaction of light in astrophysics and in laboratory plasmas from first principles using the physics of various fields of study including quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and statistical physics. Linking undergraduate level atomic and radiation physics with the advanced material required for postgraduate study and research, this text adopts a highly pedagogical approach and includes numerous exercises within each chapter for students to reinforce their understanding of the key concepts.

Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Atoms and Their Spectroscopic Properties has been designed as a reference on atomic constants and elementary processes involving atoms. The topics include energy levels, Lamb shifts, electric multipole polarizabilities, oscillator strengths, transition probabilites, and charge transfer cross sections. In addition the subjects of ionization, photoionization, and excitation are discussed. The book also comprises a large number of figures and tables, with ample references. Simple analytical formulas allow one to estimate the atomic characteristics without resorting to a computer.

This book provides a compact yet comprehensive overview of recent developments in collisional-radiative (CR) modeling of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. It describes advances across the entire field, from basic considerations of model completeness to validation and verification of CR models to calculation of plasma kinetic characteristics and spectra in diverse plasmas. Various approaches to CR modeling are presented, together with numerous examples of applications. A number of important topics, such as atomic models for CR modeling, atomic data and its availability and quality, radiation transport, non-Maxwellian effects on plasma emission, ionization potential lowering, and verification and validation of CR models, are thoroughly addressed. Strong emphasis is placed on the most recent developments in the field, such as XFEL spectroscopy. Written by leading international research scientists from a number of key laboratories, the book offers a timely summary of the most recent progress in this area. It will be a useful and practical guide for students and experienced researchers working in plasma spectroscopy, spectra simulations, and related fields.

A study of radiative-collisional phenomena in neutral and ionized gases, focusing on a "perturbed atom", i.e an atom under the influence of different perturbations in plasmas, namely by electrical and magnetic fields. The treatment covers fundamental aspects of modern physics, such as atomic quantum mechanics and quantum optics, radiation and collisional processes in plasmas and gases, nonlinear laser spectroscopy, and plasma diagnostics.

This volume, which contains 15 contributions, is based on a minicourse held at the 1987 IEEE Plasma Science Meeting. The purpose of the lectures in the course was to acquaint the students with the multidisciplinary nature of computational techniques and the breadth of research areas in plasma science in which computation can address important physics and engineering design issues. These involve: electric and magnetic fields, MHD equations, chemistry, radiation, ionization etc. The contents of the contributions, written subsequent to the minicourse, stress important aspects of computer applications. They are: 1) the numerical methods used; 2) the range of applicability; 3) how the methods are actually employed in research and in the design of devices; and, as a compendium, 4) the multiplicity of approaches possible for any one problem. The materials in this book are organized by both subject and applications which display some of the richness in computational plasma physics.