Dielectronic recombination. I. General theory

Abstract

In the process of dielectronic recombination (DR), radiative capture of an electron by a positive ion occurs via compound resonance states of the electron+ion system (states with two or more electrons excited). These states can decay by autoionisation, with probability A, or by radiative stabilisation, with probability R. In general, these are competing processes: one may have A>R or Aee, which describes electron-electron scattering allowing for radiative decays, and S_pe, which describes photon emission following electron capture. Using the unitarity of S, the total DR rate can be expressed in terms of S_ee.