The influence of $(n-n^{\prime })$-mixing processes in $H{e}^{\ast }(n)+He(1s^2)$ collisions on $H{e}^{\ast }(n)$ atoms' populations in weakly ionized helium plasmas

Abstract

The results of semi-classical calculations of rate coefficients of $(n-n^{\prime })$-mixing processes due to collisions of Rydberg atoms $H{e}^{\ast }(n)$ with $He(1s^2)$ atoms are presented. It is assumed that these processes are caused by the resonant energy exchange within the electron component of $H{e}^{\ast }(n)+He$ collision system. The method is realized through the numerical simulation of the $(n-n^{\prime })$-mixing processes, and is applied for calculations of the corresponding rate coefficients. The calculations are performed for the principal quantum numbers $n,\mbox{} n'$ in ranges $4\le n<n^{\prime }\le 10$, and the atom and electron temperatures, $T_a,T_e$, in domains $5000K\le T_a\le T_e\le 20000K$. It is shown that the $(n-n^{\prime })$-mixing processes can significantly influence the populations of Rydberg atoms in non-equilibrium weakly ionized helium plasmas with ionization degree $\sim 10^{-4}$. Therefore, these processes have to be included in the appropriate models of such plasmas.

References in corpus (1)

• Collisional and thermal ionization of sodium Rydberg atoms I. Experiment for nS and nD atoms with n=8-20

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Excitation and deexcitation processes in atom-Rydberg atom collisions in helium-rich white dwarf atmospheres