Rydberg atoms in astrophysics

Abstract

Elementary processes in astrophysical phenomena traditionally attract researchers attention. At first this can be attributed to a group of chemi-ionization processes in Rydberg atom collisions with ground state parent atoms. This processes might be studied as a prototype of the elementary process of the radiation energy transformation into electrical one. The studies of nonlinear mechanics have shown that so called regime of dynamic chaos should be considered as typical, rather than exceptional situation in Rydberg atoms collision. From comparison of theory with experimental results it follows that a such kind of stochastic dynamic processes, occurred during the single collision, may be observed. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.