Relation between the super-transition-array method in opacity calculations and the Hartree-Fock approximation at nonzero temperature

Super Transition Arrays: A Tool for Studying Spectral Properties of Hot Plasmas

For the theoretical study of X and extreme-UV spectra of ions in plasmas, quantum mechanics brings more detailed results than statistical physics. However, it is impossible to handle individually the billions of levels that must be taken into account in order to properly describe hot plasmas. Such levels can be gathered into electronic configurations or superconfigurations (groups of configurations) and the corresponding calculations rely on appropriate statistical methods, for local or non-local thermodynamic equilibrium plasmas. In this article we present the basic principles of the Super-Transition-Array approach as well as its practical implementation. During the last decades, calculations performed with the SCO code (Superconfiguration Code for Opacity) have been compared to opacity measurements. The code includes static screening of ions by plasma and is well suited for studying plasma density effects (for example pressure ionization) on opacity and equation of state. The recently developed SCO-RCG code (Superconfiguration Code for Opacity combined with Robert Cowan’s “G” subroutine) combines statistical methods from SCO and fine-structure (detailed-level-accounting) calculations using subroutine RCG from Cowan’s code. SCO-RCG enables us to obtain very detailed spectra and to significantly improve the interpretation of experimental spectra. The Super-Transition-Array formalism is still the cornerstone of several opacity codes, and new ideas are emerging, such as the Configurationally Resolved-Super-Transition-Array approach or the extension of the Partially Resolved-Transition-Array concept to the superconfiguration method.

Degeneracy and relativistic microreversibility relations for collisional-radiative equilibrium models

We present the relativistic expressions of standard nonrelativistic microreversibility relations that can be used in collisional-radiative equilibrium models to calculate the transition rates including the free electron degeneracy for collisional excitation and deexcitation, collisional ionization and three-body recombination, dielectronic capture and autoionization, photoexcitation and photodeexcitation, and radiative recombination and photoionization. Semiempirical expressions or more refined calculations can be used for the cross sections of interest as long as they are calculated by taking into account either nonrelativistic, relativistic, or ultrarelativistic effects for both the bound and free electrons. The bound and the free electrons should be treated on the same footing. This is crucial for the internal consistency of the approach valid at arbitrary degeneracy and relativistic degrees.