Effect of collisional de-excitations on the alignment of the 2p(5)3s P-3(1) level of neon-like germanium ion

The alignment of the 2p(5)3s P-3(1) level of neon-like germanium ion excite d by impact with an unpolarized electron beam has been theoretically studie d. For high electron-beam densities, 10(19) - 10(21) cm(-3) We have calcula ted the relative populations of the 2p(5)3s P-3(1) M-J=0 and /M-J/ =1 magne tic sublevels allowing for direct collisional excitation from the 2p(6) S-1 (0) ground level as well as collisional de-excitations from the 2p(5)3p S-1 (0), D-1(2) levels. The collision strengths for the transitions between mag netic sublevels were obtained in intermediate coupling using the University -College-London distorted-wave code. The calculations were carried out for impact electron energies from 155 to 750 Ry. It is shown that the collision al de-excitation effects result in a strong decrease of the degree of align ment and can even lead to a change of sign. The reported results might have useful applications in the modeling and diagnostics of hot and dense plasm as in which beams of energetic electrons are generated.