Effects of electric microfields on argon dielectronic satellite spectra in laser-produced plasmas

Theoretical spectral-line profiles have been obtained for dielectronic satellite transitions in heliumlike and lithiumlike argon ions. Particular emphasis has been given to the systematic and self-consistent incorporation of the non-local-thermodynamic-equilibrium autoionizing-level populations, together with the line-broadening effects, which are due to autoionization processes, radiative transitions, electron collisions, and the action of the plasma ion-produced electric microfields. An investigation has been carried out of the effects of the plasma electric microfields on predicted dielectronic satellite line-intensity ratios, and a discussion is presented on the consequences of the electric-microfield effects for the spectroscopic determination of basic physical properties in laser-produced plasmas.