How do tungsten ions react to light in fusion plasmas? This research explores the direct and resonant photoionization of Al-like W61+ ions, which are important in thermonuclear fusion plasmas. Using the multiconfigurational Dirac–Fock method and the relativistic R-matrix method, the study analyzes the photoionization process from the ground state and lowly excited states of W61+ ions. Calculations with the Dirac Atomic R-matrix Code reveal direct and resonant ionization limits and identify resonance peaks associated with specific electronic configurations. While the resonant ionization limits and resonance peaks are distinguishable in the ground-state photoionization, they are difficult to identify in the excited-state photoionization due to the complexity of the resonance structure. The findings contribute to the diagnosis and simulation of thermonuclear fusion plasmas, complementing existing data on tungsten ions.
Published in Physics of Plasmas, this article is highly relevant to the journal's focus on plasma physics and ionized gases. By presenting detailed calculations of photoionization cross sections for W61+ ions, the study contributes to a better understanding of plasma behavior in fusion reactors, a key area of interest for the journal's readership.