Recombination in Dense Ion Plasmas

A theory is developed to treat ion recombination in dense ion plasmas. Numerical results are obtained with the method of molecular dynamics. Exponential suppression of recombination is found for the discharge afterglow plasma in sulfur hexafluoride at strong Coulomb nonideality Γ. The reason for suppression is an increase of the recombination activation energy ΔE with increase of Γ. The range ΔE corresponds to the multiparticle fluctuations. Ion solvation is another suppression factor. Its importance is demonstrated for the discharge afterglow plasma in fluorine at weak Coulomb nonideality. The theory developed agrees with the experimental data available. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)