Advances in computer technology and code development have made it possible
to perform plasma kinetics calculations based on high-Z atomic structure co
rresponding to different levels of detail. Various atomic models have been
implemented in the Los Alamos suite of codes in recent years for performing
detailed non-equilibrium kinetics calculations. These include non-relativi
stic configuration average models with unresolved transition arrays (UTA),
detailed fine structure models including configuration interaction and inte
rmediate coupling that are capable of achieving spectroscopic accuracy for
low-Z plasmas, and fully relativistic configuration average models employin
g the concept of the unresolved transition array, UTA, for modeling high-Z
plasmas. Fully relativistic fine structure calculations have also been impl
emented and used primarily for accuracy checks. In addition, the fractional
occupation number method has been introduced in the relativistic structure
code to reduce computational times without reducing data quality. Finally,
we will discuss a method that has been developed to use the populations ex
tracted from a non-relativistic kinetics calculation in a relativistic spec
tral simulation. The purpose of the present work is to compare the emission
spectra predicted by the various models and methods using consistent sets
of atomic electron configurations and cross-sections for a gold plasma. (C)
2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.