2019MNRAS.483.4202I

In this paper, we investigate the chemi-ionization (CI) processes in atom-Rydberg atom collisions. The rate coefficients for CI processes in Li*(n) + Na, Li*(n) + Li, Na*(n) + Na and H*(n) + Li collisions are calculated for a wide range of temperatures (i.e.T <= 4000 K) and for the principal quantum numbers, 4 <= n <= 25. These processes are investigated with particular emphasis on the possibility of involving alkali metals as factors that might influence the optical properties and modelling of weakly ionized layers of different stellar atmospheres. The obtained rate coefficients are applied to models of the atmosphere of Io. Moreover, we present the further development of an investigation of CI processes for other possible applications in spectroscopy, such as in low-temperature laboratory plasma created in gas discharges (e.g. in microwave-induced discharges at atmospheric pressure), where such plasma conditions might be favourable.