Gaunt Factors

Class providing thermally averaged Gaunt factors \(\bar{g}(T, Z, N_\mathrm{e})\) for free-free (bremsstrahlung) radiation from a plasma of given atomic number and ionization state at temperature \(T\). Gaunt factors are quantum mechanical correction factors to the classical free-free emission rate and enter into the computation of bremsstrahlung cooling and thermal emission spectra from hot gas.

Default implementation: gauntFactorSutherland1998

Methods

totaldouble precision

Returns the thermally averaged, total Gaunt factor for free-free (bremsstrahlung) emission from a plasma, given the atomic number, electron number, and temperature. This dimensionless quantum-mechanical correction factor modifies the classical free-free emission rate.

  • integer , intent(in ) :: atomicNumber, electronNumber

  • double precision, intent(in ) :: temperature

gauntFactorSutherland1998

Gaunt factors are computed using the fitting function of Sutherland (1998).

(Default implementation)

gauntFactorVanHoof2014

Gaunt factors are computed using the fitting function of van Hoof et al. (2014).