Effective statistical weights of Rydberg orbitals of dopant Ar in dense plasmas and their effect on higher order satellite lines

Calculated are the effective statistical weights of Rydberg orbitals of dop ant Ar ions in dense hydrogen plasmas. Energy levels are shifted due to the screening of the nuclear Coulomb potential and the Stark effect. The elect ric microfield distribution is evaluated by using the adjustable-parameter exponential approximation. The Ryberg orbitals are easily ionized not only by the continuum lowering but also by the plasma electric microfield. The s tatistical weights of high-lying orbitals are strongly influenced by surrou nding charged particles. The results of present calculations are compared w ith More's empirical formula, and it is found that the effective statistica l weights of Rydberg orbitals remain higher than those predicted by More's formula. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(99)01609-2].