DEPARTURES FROM THE SAHA EQUATION IN AN OPTICALLY THIN NITROGEN GAS,
Abstract
The populations of the excited and ionized states in an ionized nitrogen gas are calculated for various steady state non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) situations. The non-equilibrium conditions basically result from the low electron densities considered. A model consisting of 26 energy levels is assumed for the ions NI -NVIII. The geometrical model consists of a plane-parallel semi-infinite optically thin layer which is assumed to be maintained at a fixed electron temperature and is irradiated by an external Planckian field weakened by a dilution factor, W. Specific densities and temperatures for which LTE holds (for the particle occupations) in N are presented. The electrons are assumed to have a Maxwellian distribution. The populations are presented for electron temperatures, and external radiation temperatures between 10,000 and 100,000K for various W's. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0607416
Entities
People
- J. L. Kulander
Organizations
- General Electric