Mechanisms for creating population inversions in Ne-like ions

Abstract

We investigate the effects of inner-shell ionization of sodiumlike ions on the kinetics of neonlike selenium, using a simple model that separates the calculation of the excited-state kinetics from that of the ionization balance. Our model includes collisional and radiative transitions between the neonlike states, inner-shell ionization of sodiumlike states, and dielectronic recombination from fluorinelike ions. By examining the relative importance of these various population mechanisms, we demonstrate that inner-shell ionization of sodiumlike ions has a significant effect on the inversion kinetics of neonlike selenium, although it is not sufficient alone to account for the discrepancy with experimental observation.