Time-dependent calculations of electron energy distribution functions for cold argon gas in the presence of intense black-body radiation
Abstract
Boltzmann electron kinetic simulations are performed to study the time development of the electron energy distribution in a plasma resulting from a cold argon gas subject to a black-body radiation source (100-300 eV). The study provides insight into the role of ionized electrons on the kinetics during a period of irradiation. The simulations are performed without any assumptions of electron temperature. The distributions are calculated as a function of time through 1 ps using Boltzmann kinetics, including the appropriate processes that alter state populations and electron energy. The processes included in the electron and atomic kinetics are collisional excitation/de-excitation, photo-excitation/decay, photo-ionization/radiative-recombination, collisional ionization and auto-ionization/di-electronic capture. In addition, terms are included in the electron kinetics to account for electron-electron interactions and for free-free radiation absorption and emission. Results are presented that follow the evolution of the ionization state, effective temperature as well as the electron energy distribution function. The role of inelastic electron collisions, photo-ionization, auto-ionization, resonant radiative excitation and electron-electron interactions is discussed.
- Publication:
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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0953-4075/45/3/035701
- Bibcode:
- 2012JPhB...45c5701A