The local density approximation (LDA) has been applied in a version of the
SCO code based on the superconfiguration method. The self-consistent-held L
DA equations for each superconfiguration are obtained by minimization of th
e free-energy functional with an appropriate number of constraints which gu
arantee the required populations of supershells. The one-electron states re
sulting from these SCF equations are then used in the Hartree-Fock formulas
for transition energies, oscillator-strengths, UTA (or SOSA) widths and sh
ifts and in the superconfiguration statistical sums. Applications of the pr
esent method to model the measured transmission 3d-4f spectra of low-temper
ature samarium plasma are discussed. It is found that the presented method
gives results very close to those obtained using the finite temperature Har
tree-Fock SCF atomic physics provided that: (a) the effective LDA potential
contains the Kohn-Sham exchange supplemented by a correlation contribution
and (b) the orbital relaxation effects are taken into account. Examples of
calculated transmission spectra with and without inclusion of screening in
the case of 2p-3d transitions in low-temperature iron plasma at small (0.0
04g/cm(3)) and solid densities are also shown. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Lt
d. All rights reserved.