Fast electric microfield distribution calculations in extreme matter conditions
Résumé
Spectral line shapes provide a powerful tool for characterizing strongly coupled plasmas that have become experimentally more accessible in recent years. Line shape calculations in turn require as input the electric microfield distribution at the emitting atom or ion. The APEX approximation for microfield distributions is computationally fast and suited for weakly as well as strongly coupled plasmas. The currently available APEX program, however, contains computationally difficulties that restrict its range of applicability. Consequently, the code has been improved removing many of its shortcomings. An important new feature is the incorporation of the HNC integral equation solution to the radial distribution functions necessary for the APEX approximation. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.