ATOMIC CONFIGURATION AVERAGE SIMULATIONS FOR PLASMA SPECTROSCOPY

Configuration average atomic physics based on Hartree-Fock methods and an unresolved transition array (UTA) simulation theory are combined t o provide a computationally efficient approach for calculating the spe ctral properties of plasmas involving complex ions. The UTA theory giv es an overall representation for the many lines associated with a radi ative transition from one configuration to another without calculating the fine structure in full detail. All of the atomic quantities requi red for synthesis of the spectrum are calculated in the same approxima tion and used to generate the parameters required for representation o f each UTA. the populations of the various atomic states, and the osci llator strengths. We use this method to simulate the transmission of x -rays through an aluminium plasma. The results are compared to experim ent and to previous detailed fine structure calculations. The present results duplicate all major structural features of the spectrum and re present a significant saving in computational time compared to detaile d calculations.