Saha half-ionization temperature

ID: saha-half-ionization-temperature

With the rounded hydrogen Saha equation coefficient, the condition gives the displayed equation for . Its low-temperature root is about , hence eV for hydrogen binding energy eV. Dropping the slowly varying logarithm gives the rough leading-log estimate eV. This equilibrium convention is distinct from photon decoupling and from a full kinetic recombination calculation.

New to topics? Read the docs here!