Fundamental Processes in Partially Ionized Plasmas
Abstract
Research during this past year has emphasized studies of plasmas properties and associated diagnostics, including nonequilibrium effects in so-called thermal plasmas. The present report discusses first measurements of the radiative source strength of air for temperatures in the range between 5000 and 7500K. To our knowledge these are the first measurements of this important property in this temperature range. The results are compared with a NASA computer code. Also described is a study of quenching effects on excited states of a nonequilibrium thermal plasma. These and companion measurements show that the common assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium in plasmas at or about atmospheric pressure can be seriously in error and that as a result the reliability of many temperature measurements in such plasmas should be questioned. Contents: Measurements of the volumetric radiative source strength of an air plasma between 5000 and 7500K; and Electronic quenching of argon excited states in a non-equilibrium plasma at atmospheric pressure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA244054
Entities
People
- C. H. Kruger
- Christophe Laux
- Matt Gordon
Organizations
- Stanford University