Population inversion calculations using near resonant charge exchange as a pumping mechanism.
A theoretical study is conducted to investigate the possibility of obtaining inversions in a plasma of metals such as Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba by charge exchange with inert gas ions. The gases considered include He, Ne, Xe, Ar, or N. The analysis uses rate equations to calculate the density of the various ion levels and an energy equation to calculate the electron temperature. Both charge exchange and electron collisional excitation of the various ion levels are considered.