Yu. Ralchenko

The Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data Centre (VAMDC) Consortium

The Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data Centre (VAMDC) Consortium is a worldwide consortium which federates atomic and molecular databases through an e-science infrastructure and an organisation to support this activity. About 90% of the inter-connected databases handle data that are used for the interpretation of astronomical spectra and for modelling in many fields of astrophysics. Recently the VAMDC Consortium has connected databases from the radiation damage and the plasma communities, as well as promoting the publication of data from Indian institutes. This paper describes how the VAMDC Consortium is organised for the optimal distribution of atomic and molecular data for scientific research. It is noted that the VAMDC Consortium strongly advocates that authors of research papers using data cite the original experimental and theoretical papers as well as the relevant databases.

EUV spectra of highly-charged ions W54+?W63+ relevant to ITER diagnostics

We report the first measurements and detailed analysis of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectra (4–20 nm) of highly-charged tungsten ions W54+ to W63+ obtained with an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). Collisional-radiative modelling is used to identify strong electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole transitions in all ionization stages. These lines can be used for impurity transport studies and temperature diagnostics in fusion reactors, such as ITER. Identifications of prominent lines from several W ions are confirmed by the measurement of isoelectronic EUV spectra of Hf, Ta and Au. We also discuss the importance of charge-exchange recombination for the correct description of ionization balance in the EBIT plasma.

Review of the NLTE emissivities code comparison virtual workshop

Abstract We review the first “virtual workshop” designed to compare NLTE emissivities produced by widely differing types of atomic physics codes. A small set of significant results, illustrating the progress that is still to be achieved, is presented. We conclude with some lessons learned and possible avenues for future progress.

Spectroscopy of diagnostically-important magnetic-dipole lines in highly-charged 3d n ions of tungsten

An electron beam ion trap (EBIT) is used to measure extreme ultraviolet spectra between 10 nm and 25 nm from highly-charged ions of tungsten with an open 3d shell (W XLVIII through W LVI). We found that almost all strong lines are due to the forbidden magnetic-dipole (M1) transitions within 3d n ground configurations. A total of 37 spectral lines are identified for the first time using detailed collisional-radiative (CR) modeling of the EBIT spectra. A new level-merging scheme for compactification of rate equations is described. The CR simulations for Maxwellian plasmas show that several line ratios involving these M1 lines can be used to reliably diagnose temperature and density in hot fusion devices.

Empirical formula for cross section of direct electron-impact ionization of ions

Plasma ionization composition and level population calculations require, in particular, the cross sections of direct ionization from each quantum state into each state which may be generated by means of removal of any electron. We analysed published data and propose here an empirical formula for cross sections of direct electron-impact ionization of positive atomic ions. The cross sections given by this formula are in satisfactory agreement with those calculated in the distorted-wave (DW) approximation; therefore, we believe that for any direct state-to-state ionization channel this formula provides a reasonably accurate prediction of the DW result. Comparisons with published data and with the Lotz formula are reported as well.

Spectroscopic investigations of a dielectric-surface-discharge plasma source

Spectroscopic investigations of the properties of a plasma produced by a flashboard plasma source, commonly used in pulsed plasma experiments, are presented. The plasma is used to prefill a planar 0.4 μs conduction time plasma opening switch (POS). A novel gas-doping technique and a secondary surface flashover plasma source are used to locally dope the plasma with gaseous and solid materials, respectively, allowing for spatially resolved measurements. The electron density, temperature, and plasma composition are determined from spectral line intensities and line profiles. Detailed collisional-radiative modeling is used to analyze the observed line intensities. The propagation velocity and divergence angle of various ions are determined from time-of-flight measurements and Doppler broadening of spectral lines, respectively. This allows for distinguishing the secondary plasma ejected from the POS electrodes from the plasma of the flashboard source.

Consistency of atomic data for the interpretation of beam emission spectra

Several collisional–radiative (CR) models (Anderson et al 2000 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 42 781–806, Hutchinson 2002 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 44 71–82, Marchuk et al 2008 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79 10F532) have been developed to calculate the attenuation and the population of excited states of hydrogen or deuterium beams injected into tokamak plasmas. The datasets generated by these CR models are needed for the modelling of beam ion deposition and (excited) beam densities in current experiments, and the reliability of these data will be crucial to obtain helium ash densities on ITER combining charge exchange and beam emission spectroscopy. Good agreement between the different CR models for the neutral beam (NB) is found, if corrections to the fundamental cross sections are taken into account. First the Hα and Hβ beam emission spectra from JET are compared with the expected intensities. Second, the line ratios within the Stark multiplet are compared with the predictions of a sublevel resolved model. The measured intensity of the full multiplet is ≈30% lower than expected on the basis of beam attenuation codes and the updated beam emission rates, but apart from the atomic data this could also be due to the characterization of the NB path and line of sight integration and the absolute calibration of the optics. The modelled n = 3 to n = 4 population agrees very well with the ratio of the measured Hα to Hβ beam emission intensities. Good agreement is found as well between the NB power fractions measured with beam emission in plasma and on the JET Neutral Beam Test Bed. The Stark line ratios and σ/π intensity ratio deviate from a statistical distribution, in agreement with the CR model in parabolic states from Marchuk et al (2010 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 43 011002).

Electron-impact broadening of the 3s-3p lines in low-Z Li-like ions

The collisional electron-impact line widths of the 3s–3p transitions in Li-like ions from B III to Ne VIII are calculated with the convergent close-coupling (CCC) method from the atomic collision theory. The elastic and inelastic contributions to the line broadening and their Z-scaling are discussed in detail, and comparisons with recent experimental and theoretical results are also presented. It is found that similar to our previous study of line broadening in Be-like ions, the di;erence between experimental and CCC results monotonically increases with the spectroscopic charge of an ion. ? 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A scaling of multiple ionization cross sections

On the basis of average experimental data we demonstrate scaling laws of electron-impact multiple ionization cross sections and propose expressions for the cross sections for arbitrary atoms and ions.

Plasma dynamics in pulsed strong magnetic fields

Recent investigations of the interaction of fast-rising magnetic fields with multi-species plasmas at densities of 1013–1015 cm−3 are described. The configurations studied are planar or coaxial interelectrode gaps pre-filled with plasmas, known as plasma opening switches. The diagnostics are based on time-dependent, spatially resolved spectroscopic observations. Three-dimensional spatial resolution is obtained by plasma-doping techniques. The measurements include the propagating magnetic field structure, ion velocity distributions, electric field strengths, and non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution across the magnetic field front. It is found that the magnetic field propagation velocity is faster than expected from diffusion. The magnetic field evolution cannot be explained by the available theoretical treatments based on the Hall field (that could, in principle, explain the fast field propagation). Moreover, detailed observations reveal that magnetic field penetration and plasma reflection occur si...