Atomic energy levels population kinetics in dense plasmas - plasma ions electric microfield mixing dynamics effect (I): the general theory

Abstract

In the present paper we introduce a full and closed system of atomic kinetic equations on fractions of atomic energy levels taking into account the effect of the plasma ions electric microfield mixing dynamics. The system of equations that we present is deduced from a full quantum multi-atomic states density matrix master equation. The analytical derivation of this atomic kinetic system of equations is based on the introduction of a new hierarchy chain of equations involving a new set of statistical atomic variables. The final system of atomic kinetic equations is obtained by introducing relation de fermeture to truncate the hierarchy chain of equations. We show that the final system of equations contains a new plasma ions electric microfield dependent atomic rates related to the process of mixing dynamics of atomic energy states. The analytical expression of this rate is given in this paper. We discuss the importance of the present analysis in view of the radiation emission originating from dense plasmas created by the interaction of the X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) with solid density matter.