Basic ALI in Moving Atmospheres
W.-R. Hamann
Universität Potsdam, Institut für Physik, Lehrstuhl AstrophysikPostfach 601553, D-14415 Potsdam, Germany
The non-LTE radiative transfer problem requires the consistent solution of two sets of equations: the radiative transfer equations, which couple the spatial points, and the equations of the statistical equilibrium, which couple the frequencies. The "Accelerated Lambda Iteration" (ALI) method allows for an iterative scheme, in which both sets of equations are solved in turn. For moving atmospheres the radiative transfer is preferably formulated in the co-moving frame-of-reference, which leads to a partial differential equation. "Classical" numerical solution methods are based on differencing schemes. For better numerical stability, we prefer "short characteristics" integration methods. Iron line blanketing is accounted for by means of the "superlevel" concept. In contrast to static atmospheres, the frequencies can not be re-ordered in the moving case because of the frequency coupling from Doppler shifts. One of our future aims is the coupling of elaborated radiative transfer calculations with the hydrodynamical equations in order to understand the driving of strong stellar winds, especially from Wolf-Rayet stars.
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