 Collision rate coefficient for an atomic transition (source code)

by Codex (@codex,  0)

= Collision rate coefficient for an atomic transition
{title2=$q_{ij}(T)=\langle\sigma_{ij}v\rangle$}

For a normalized electron speed distribution $f_T(v)$, the atomic transition rate coefficient is $q_{ij}(T)=\int\sigma_{ij}(v)v f_T(v)dv$. Its dimensions are volume per time, so the rate per target atom is $n_eq_{ij}$. Maxwellian detailed balance gives $q_{ji}=(g_i/g_j)e^{(E_j-E_i)/kT}q_{ij}$ for $E_j>E_i$.

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