One electron atom immersed in a plasma, 1969

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Ros

Identifier: b2088221

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth College graduate Physics program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Science degree.

Dates

Creation: 1969

Creator

Ross, Raymond L. (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Conditions Governing Use

The accessioned copy of this thesis consists of dual spectrum (duplicate) prints. The reproductions remain legible as of April 2019, but they are photosensitive, brittle, and at risk of further damage from prolonged light exposure. These items should be handled with special care and not photocopied. Pages 55-56 are damaged.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 59 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction

Section II of this thesis considers the problem of an electron which is both bound in an attractive screened Coulomb potential and under the simultaneous influence of an external electric field. The total energy Hamiltonian, for the case of one electron immersed in a plasma, is derived. A suitable ground state wavefunction is chosen which incorporates the approximate induced dipole character of the charge configuration when subjected to the plasma's free particle uniform electric field. The variational principle calculation of the ground state energy is performed and comparison is made with second order perterbation theory. The ionization field is determined for hydrogen 1s state and is found to give a new upper bound. The effect of screening and electric field on other observables are likewise calculated.

Section III discusses the disappearance of spectral lines, originating from high energy levels, which has been shown to occur in both solar and laboratory hydgrogen plasmas. Ionization plus Stark splitting in the presence of both regular and screened Coulomb potentials is considered. Stark broadening is likewise investigated and is shown to be the most dominant effect in the disappearance of emission spectra. The last bound state (n*) is determined for all cases cited and compared to experimentally observed values. The most favorable agreement is obtained in the case of Stark broadening irrespective of the potential considered. However, discrepancies still remain and the question remains open for further investigation.

In Section IV, the value of inverse Debye length, which results in the true experimental value of ionization field for the hydrogen 1s state, is determined. The ioniozation field for the hydrogen 2s state is, likewise, calculated. Conclusions are drawn, and recommendations for future areas of investigation are made.

All calculations are performed in atomic units, a summary of which appears in Appendix A.

Partial Contents

I. Introduction -- II. One electron atom immersed in a plasma -- III. Emission spectra cutoffs -- IV. Conclusions and recommendations for future areas of investigation -- V. Tables -- VI. Figures -- VII. Appendices -- VIII. References -- IX. Computer programs (original only).