THE EFFECT OF DEGENERACY ON THE SCATTERING CONTRIBUTION TO THE RADIATIVE OPACITY

The effect of partial free electron degeneracy on the scattering contr ibution to the radiative opacity is of interest in calculations of the structure and evolution of stars, particularly the Sun, where the pla sma at the Sun's center is partially degenerate and scattering is a ma jor contribution to the opacity. We present a simple multiplicative co rrection factor to the scattering opacity that accounts for the effect of degeneracy on the final scattering state. We discuss the connectio n between this work and other calculations which have included this ef fect.