Ionization Equilibrium of Optically Thick Argon Z-Pinch Plasmas for Electron Temperatures between 25 and 65 eV

摘要

Calculations of the ionization balance of optically thick argon plasmas of electron temperature 25-65 eV are presented. A multistage, multilevel model of argon ions with accurate radiation transport of about 50 lines in the sodium, neon, and flourine-like stages forms the basis of the calculations. By comparison with similar optically thin calculations, the effects on ionization of radiative and collisional pumping of excited states of these stages is delineated. In particular, the broad temperature distribution of the neon-like stage is compressed by line photon pumping to a narrower regime of existence because of ionization from the excited states. The relevance to the 3p-3s lasing scheme in neon-like argon is briefly discussed. (Author)