arXiv subjects

Heidi Reinholz

Publications and source records attributed to Heidi Reinholz.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The virial expansion of the Hydrogen equation of state in comparison to PIMC simulations: the quasiparticle concept, IPD, and ionization degree

The properties of plasmas in the low-density limit are described by virial expansions. Analytical expressions are known for the lowest virial coefficients from Green's function approaches.Recently, accurate path-integral Monte Carlo simulations were performed for the hydrogen plasma at low densities by Filinov and Bonitz [Phys. Rev. E 108 (2023)055212], which made a comparison of the virial expansions and the derivation of interpolation formulas possible. The exact expression for the second virial coefficient is used to test the accuracy of the PIMC simulations and the range of application of the virial expansions.To describe plasmas in a wider range of density and temperature, the concept of quasiparticles is considered. Medium modifications of free and bound states are obtained from the spectral function. Mean-field effects are presented, such as exchange terms, Pauli blocking and screening. The density expansions of the quasiparticle shifts is considered. The combination of PIMC simulations with benchmarks from exact virial expansion results allows us to obtain precise results for the EoS in the low-density range. At low densities, the results are compared with the Saha equation to introduce the medium-dependent ionization potential. The relation to the Beth-Uhlenbeck formula and concepts such as the Mott effect, ionization potential depression (IPD), and ionization degree are discussed. The limits of current PIMC results for hydrogen plasmas are shown. Further improvements of the PIMC simulations are required to compare with analytical benchmarks.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2018

Ionization potential depression and Pauli blocking in degenerate plasmas at extreme densities

New facilities explore warm dense matter (WDM) at extreme conditions where the densities are very high (e.g., carbon up to density of 50 g cm$^{-3}$) so that electrons are degenerate even at 100 eV temperature. Whereas in the non-degenerate region correlation effects such as Debye screening and its improvements are relevant for the ionization potential depression (IPD), new effects have to be considered in degenerate plasmas. In addition to the Fock shift of the self-energies, the bound-state Pauli blocking becomes important with increasing density. Taking these degeneracy effects into account leads to a reduction of the ionization potential and to a higher degree of ionization. Standard approaches to IPD such as Stewart-Pyatt and widely used opacity tables (e.g., OPAL) do not contain Pauli blocking effects for bound states so that they fail to explain experiments with WDM in the high density region. As example, results for the ionization degree of carbon plasmas are presented.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Plasma Diagnostics Using K-Line Emission Profiles of Argon

K-line profiles emitted from a warm dense plasma environment are used for diagnostics of Ar droplet plasmas created by high energy laser pulses. We observe temperature gradients within the Ar droplet from cold temperatures of the order of some 10 eV up to higher temperatures of about 170 eV. Non-perturbative wave functions are calculated as well as ionization energies, binding energies and relevant emission energies using a chemical {\it ab initio} code. The plasma screening is considered within a perturbative approach to the Hamiltonian. The plasma effect influences the many-particle system resulting in energy shifts due to electron-ion and electron-electron interaction. With this approach we get a good reproduction of spectral features that are strongly influenced by ionization and excitation processes within the plasma. Comparing with the widely known FLYCHK code, counting for internal degrees of freedom (bound states) and treating pressure ionization within our quantum statistical approach leads to different results for the inferred temperature distribution.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Ionization potential depression and optical spectra in a Debye plasma model

We show how optical spectra in dense plasmas are determined by the shift of energy levels as well as the broadening owing to collisions with the plasma particles. In lowest approximation, the interaction with the plasma particles is described by the RPA dielectric function, leading to the Debye shift of the continuum edge. The bound states remain nearly un-shifted, their broadening is calculated in Born approximation. The role of ionization potential depression as well as the Inglis-Teller effect are shown. The model calculations have to be improved going beyond the lowest (RPA) approximation when applying to WDM spectra.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Ionization potential depression and dynamical structure factor in dense plasmas

The properties of a bound electron system immersed in a plasma environment are strongly modified by the surrounding plasma. The modification of a basic quantity, the ionization energy, is described by the electronic self-energy and by dynamical screening within the framework of the quantum statistical theory. Introducing the ionic dynamical structure factor as the indicator for the ionic micro-field, we demonstrate that ionic correlations and fluctuations play a critical role in determining the ionization potential depression. This is in particular true for mixtures of different ions with large mass and charge asymmetry. The ionization potential depression is calculated for dense aluminum plasmas as well as for a CH plasma and compared to the experimental data and more phenomenological approaches used so far.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Contribution of electron-atom collisions to the plasma conductivity of noble gases

We present an approach which allows the consistent treatment of bound states in the context of the dc conductivity in dense partially ionized noble gas plasmas. Besides electron-ion and electron-electron collisions, further collision mechanisms owing to neutral constituents are taken into account. Especially at low temperatures $T\approx 1 {\rm eV}$, electron-atom collisions give a substantial contribution to the relevant correlation functions. We suggest an optical potential for the description of the electron-atom scattering which is applicable for all noble gases. The electron-atom momentum-transfer cross section is in agreement with experimental scattering data. In addition the influence of the medium is analysed, the optical potential is advanced including screening effects. The position of the Ramsauer minimum is influenced by the plasma. Alternative approaches for the electron-atom potential are discussed. Calculations of the electrical conductivity are compared with experimental data.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Transition Rates for a Rydberg Atom Surrounded by a Plasma

We derive a quantum master equation for an atom coupled to a heat bath represented by a charged particle many-body environment. In Born-Markov approximation, the influence of the plasma environment on the reduced system is described by the dynamical structure factor. Expressions for the profiles of spectral lines are obtained. Wave packets are introduced as robust states allowing for a quasi-classical description of Rydberg electrons. Transition rates for highly excited Rydberg levels are investigated. A circular-orbit wave packet approach has been applied, in order to describe the localization of electrons within Rydberg states. The calculated transition rates are in a good agreement with experimental data.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dielectric function beyond RPA: kinetic theory vs. linear response theory

Calculating the frequency dependent dielectric function for strongly coupled plasmas, the relations within kinetic theory and linear response theory are derived and discussed in comparison. In this context, we proof the Kohler variational principle for arbitrary frequencies. It can be shown to be a special case of the Zubarev method for the construction of a non-equilibrium statistical operator from the principle of the extremum of entropy. Within kinetic theory, the commonly used energy dependent relaxation time approach is strictly valid only for the Lorentz plasma in the static case. It is compared with the result from linear response theory that includes electron-electron interactions and applies for arbitrary frequencies, including bremsstrahlung emission. It is shown how a general approach to linear response encompasses the different approximations and opens options for systematic improvements.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Spatially Resolved Dynamic Structure Factor of Finite Systems from MD Simulations

The dynamical response of metallic clusters up to $10^3$ atoms is investigated using the restricted molecular dynamics simulations scheme. Exemplarily, sodium like material is considered. Correlation functions are evaluated to investigate the spatial structure of collective electron excitations and optical response of laser excited clusters. In particular, the spectrum of bi-local correlation functions shows resonances representing different modes of collective excitations inside the nano plasma. The spatial structure, the resonance energy and width of the eigenmodes have been investigated for various values of electron density, temperature, cluster size and ionization degree. Comparison with bulk properties is performed and the dispersion relation of collective excitations is discussed.

physics.atm-clus↗