NON-EQUILIBRIUM RADIATION.
Abstract
The criteria specifying the conditions for which a gas will be in a state of local thermodynamic equilibrium are discussed for both collisionally and radiatively controlled transition processes. Particular emphasis is given to the radiation field in a gas where the particle translational distribution functions are Maxwellian. A microscopic formulation of the transfer equation and solution for the source function is presented for a general n level atom where the first resonance line is optically non-thin. Specific solutions are given for a 3-level atomic model. The calculation of the radiative and collisional cross-sections and transition rates is discussed. The bound-bound and bound-free rates are calculated for the lower lying states of N I-VII assuming equilibrium distribution functions for temperatures between 10,000 and 1,000,000 K. The electron densities and temperatures for which the various collisional and radiative rates are balanced are presented as an indication of situations where the gas (N) will not be in a state of local thermodynamic equilibrium. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0617383
Entities
People
- J. L. Kulander
Organizations
- General Electric