RADIATIVE ENERGY-LOSS IN A NONEQUILIBRIUM ARGON PLASMA

The total radiative loss in atmospheric argon plasmas it calculated al lowing for deviations from local Saha equilibrium LSE. We have taken i nto account non-equilibrium excited state populations using numerical and analytical collisional-radiative models. Simple expressions for th e different radiation mechanisms are given in terms of the electron de nsity, electron temperature and ionization degree. These quantities to gether with the heavy particle temperature also define the deviation f rom equilibrium. In the recombining zones the effect of non-equilibriu m will have significant influence on the total radiative loss due to l ine radiation. The dominancy results from the fact that the electron d ensity in a recombining plasma is much larger than the value predicted by Saha. The results of this study can also be used for non-atmospher ic argon plasma provided that n(e) > 5 x 10(19) m-3 and n(1)d > 10(20) m-2 in which d is the plasma dimension.