Application of rare gases collisional-radiative models to fusion plasma optical diagnostics and modelling

Full text: Radiation emitted from various plasmas, along with detailed Collisional-Radiative (C-R) models, must be used in the development of the optical diagnostics of plasmas that cannot be assumed to be in Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE). We are specifically interested in the application of C-R models for diagnostics and modelling of fusion plasmas. Previously, we have developed C-R models for Ar and Xe plasmas of relatively low temperature which were applied to the study of various devices, including the WEGA Stellarator, two SPT-50 prototype plasma thrusters and some dedicated experiments conceived for their validation. As an extension to our earlier models, we have developed C-R models that include spectra of orders IV to IX; these models cover the entire range of population of the outer p6 and s2 shells of the rare gases. We are working to validate these models and to apply them to various rare gas plasmas encountered in fusion research. (author)