Saha

plasmapy.formulary.ionization.Saha(g_j, g_k, n_e: Quantity, E_jk: Quantity, T_e: Quantity) → Quantity[source]

Return the ratio of populations of two ionization states.

The Saha equation, derived in statistical mechanics, gives an approximation of the ratio of population of ions in two different ionization states in a plasma. This approximation applies to plasmas in thermodynamic equilibrium where ionization and recombination of ions with electrons are balanced.

\[\frac{N_j}{N_k} = \frac{1}{n_e} \frac{g_j}{4 g_k a_0^{3}} \left( \frac{k_B T_e}{π E_H} \right)^{\frac{3}{2}} \exp\left( \frac{-E_{jk}}{k_B T_e} \right)\]

Where \(k_B\) is the Boltzmann constant, \(a_0\) is the Bohr radius, \(E_H\) is the ionization energy of hydrogen, \(N_j\) and \(N_k\) are the population of ions in the \(j\) and \(k\) states respectively. This function is equivalent to Eq. 3.47 in Drake.

Parameters:

  • T_e (Quantity) – The electron temperature in units of temperature or thermal energy per particle.

  • g_j (int) – The degeneracy of ionization state \(j\).

  • g_k (int) – The degeneracy of ionization state \(k\).

  • E_jk (Quantity) – The energy difference between ionization states \(j\) and \(k\).

  • n_e (Quantity) – The electron number density of the plasma.

Warns:

UnitsWarning – If units are not provided, SI units are assumed.

Raises:
Returns:

ratio – The ratio of population of ions in ionization state \(j\) to state \(k\).

Return type:

Quantity

Examples

>>> import astropy.units as u
>>> T_e = 5000 * u.K
>>> n = 1e19 * u.m**-3
>>> g_j = 2
>>> g_k = 2
>>> E_jk = 1 * u.Ry
>>> Saha(g_j, g_k, n, E_jk, T_e)
<Quantity 3.299...e-06>
>>> T_e = 1 * u.Ry
>>> n = 1e23 * u.m**-3
>>> Saha(g_j, g_k, n, E_jk, T_e)
<Quantity 1114595.586...>

Notes

For reference to this function and for more information regarding the Saha equation, see chapter 3 of R. Paul Drake’s book, “High-Energy-Density Physics: Foundation of Inertial Fusion and Experimental Astrophysics” (DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67711-8_3).