Electron radiative recombination with a hydrogen-like ion

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of nonrelativistic electron radiative recombination with hydrogen-like ions, including exact calculations and improved interpolation formulas for plasma applications.

Contribution

It introduces new interpolation formulas that accurately approximate recombination quantities across a wide temperature range, improving upon existing asymptotic and interpolation methods.

Findings

Exact cross sections and emission coefficients calculated.

Proposed interpolation formulas ensure uniform accuracy.

Comparison shows improved approximation over previous formulas.

Abstract

We survey the results of a long-term study of the process of radiative recombination. A rigorous theory of nonrelativistic electron radiative recombination with a hydrogen-like ion is used to calculate the total cross section of the process, the effective radiation, the recombination rate coefficient, and the emission coefficient in a plasma with a Maxwellian electron distribution. The exact results are compared with the numerous known asymptotic and interpolation formulas. We propose interpolation formulas which ensure a uniform approximation of all mentioned quantities in a wide range of plasma temperatures.