Modeling of Inelastic Collisions in a Multifluid Plasma: Ionization and Recombination

A model for ionization and recombination collisions in a multifluid plasma is formulated using the framework introduced in previous work [{Phys. Plasmas} \textbf{22}, 093512 (2015)]. The exchange source terms for density, momentum and energy are detailed for the case of electron induced ionization and three body recombination collisions with isotropic scattering. The principle of detailed balance is enforced at the microscopic level. We describe how to incorporate the standard collisional-radiative model into the multifluid equations using the current formulation. Numerical solutions of the collisional-radiative rate equations for atomic hydrogen are presented to highlight the impact of the multifluid effect on the kinetics.