Non-statistical population distributions for hydrogen beam in fusion plasmas

Published

July 27, 2012

Author(s)

O. Marchuk, Yuri Ralchenko, D. R. Schultz

Abstract

Most atomic models for a neutral hydrogen beam in fusion plasmas assume statistical (Boltzmann) distribution of populations for excited states with the same principal quantum number n. Here we analyze population distributions for the excited magnetic sublevels of a beam under typical conditions of existing and future fusion devices. Collisional-radiative (CR) model NOMAD based on completely m- resolved parabolic states up to n=10 is used to study this problem. The model utilizes new proton-impact excitation data calculated with the atomic-orbital close- coupling method and Glauber approximation and takes into account electric-field- induced ionization from high excited states. Our simulations show that the statistical assumption for a specific n is generally not valid for typical fusion conditions due to radiative processes and strong field ionization. The deviation increases considerably for higher beam energies and stronger magnetic fields. The calculated line intensities of σ and π components and beam emission parameters are discussed in detail.

Citation

Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

Volume

54

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

neutral beams, statistical distribution, motional Stark effect, beam emission, fusion plasmas

Citation

Marchuk, O. , Ralchenko, Y. and Schultz, D. (2012), Non-statistical population distributions for hydrogen beam in fusion plasmas, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, [online], https://doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/54/9/095010 (Accessed October 21, 2025)