Excitation of Atomic Spectra provides a survey of the elementary processes of atomic collisions responsible for the formation of atomic spectra in the laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. It presents the usefull and rather simple approximate methods for calculation of cross-sections and gives a set of fitting formulas. Extensive tables list the cross-sections and rate coefficients for excitation and ionization of atoms and ions calculated by the code ATOM. The special appendix provides the formulas for the energy and transition matrix elements in the representation most convenient for computer calculations. The theory of spectral line broadening and its application to plasma spectroscopy is given. The general approach to the problem based on the methods of density matrix and quantum kinetic equation is also outlined.

Preface / Elementary Processes Giving Rise to Spectra / Theory of Atomic Collisions / Approximate Methods for Calculating Cross Sections / Collisions Between Heavy Particles / Some Problems of Excitation Kinetics / Tables and Formulas for Estimation / Broadening of Spectral Lines / Appendix: Symmetrical method of atomic calculations: angular parts of matrix elements / References / List of Symbols / Subject Index.

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