Free-Free Transitions of Electrons in Gases

Abstract

A simple formula is derived for estimating the absorption coefficient for free-free transitions at long wavelengths in gases with temperatures of a few thousand degrees, and tables of the auxiliary functions that enter are presented. The procedure makes use of experimental or theoretical data on elastic scattering cross-sections. Explicit results are given for the gases H, He, N, 0, Ne, H2, N2, and 02.