POPULATION INVERSION IN OPTICALLY THICK, RECOMBINING HYDROGEN PLASMAS

Furukane,U., Yokota,T., Kawasaki,K.: 1983, J.Quant.Spectros.Radiat. Transfer, 29, 75.

The plasma condition is investigated theoretically for population inversion between the first two excited states of hydrogen atoms in a recombining plasma. The rate equations, including atom-atom collision terms, is solved consistently with the optical escape factors. The upper bound of the ground level population density (n1)max necessary for inversion in the optically thick plasma at specified electron density and temperature is nearly inversely proportional to the mean radius of the plasma r0. With a decrease in the atom temperature, the upper bounds increase in the optically thin plasma but decrease in the optically thick plasma.


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