........ published in NEWSLETTER # 46
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........ published in NEWSLETTER # 46
RECOMBINATION OF ATOMIC IONS
by Dr. W.G. Graham, The Queens University of Belfast, Belfast (U.K.)
The last decade has seen tremendous activity in both the theoretical and experimental study of atomic-ion recombination. This was driven by fundamental interest and also a need for more detailed understanding of the recombination process and its role in the energy balance of various plasma environments, mainly astrophysical and fusion devices. Developments of multicharged ion sources and traps and sophisticated merged electron-ion beam experiments, culminating in ion storage ring experiments were crucial to the experimental studies of free electron-ion recombination processes such as radiative recombination and dielectronic recombination. This work was aided by the discovery of a recombination process in ion-atom collisions, resonant transfer and excitation, which was found to be directly analogous to dielectronic recombination. Theoretical treatments based on semiclassical impulse and isolated resonance approximations were developed in parallel. As a result of this activity the field has matured to the point that there is now available a precise and detailed knowledge atomic-ion recombination.
The present volume (NATO ASI SERIES B296), based on a Workshop held in Newcastle, Northern Ireland in October 1991, served as an in-depth review of this work. The subject of recombination of atomic ions, both in collisions with free electrons and with atoms, is reviewed in a series of coordinated contributions from almost all the groups which have made significant contributions in the area during the last decade. A synopsis of each of a number of discussion sessions, where outstanding problems and future directions for research were identified, is also included.
The material is organized into several themes, a historical perspective, an overview of the subject area and its applications, theoretical aspects and experimental measurements of both free electron-ion and bound electron-ion recombination.
Not only will this provide a valuable source document, but by putting all the rapid advances of the last decade into context, it is hoped it will provide a springboard to advance this important area of study.
Reference books: B83, B130, B145, B149, B171, B181, B201, B205, B296