Atomic charge states in a weakly coupled plasma environment

The relative stability of various charge states of a number of selected elements has been studied as a function of increasing screening due to a weakly bound plasma represented by the statically screened Coulomb potential of the Yukawa-type. Elements with positive electron affinity in a vacuum are predicted to undergo a sequential electron detachment process from anionic state to the cationic one as the inverse screening length of plasma increases. Conversely, elements with negative electron affinity in a vacuum present only two charge states, neutral and positive. At small screening the neutral is the most stable charge state, and as the screening increases the cation develops as the most stable charge state. Values of the inverse screening length for each of the transitions have been calculated and discussed