Theoretical radiative transport results for a free-burning arc using a line-by-line technique

Many thermal radiation results for a two-dimensional, axisymmetric, atmosph eric, free-burning are for several different wavelength intervals, as well as the entire thermal spectrum, are presented. Quantities such as the emiss ion, average intensity, radiative source term and radial flux are calculate d from a theoretically rigorous technique for handling radiative transport in a medium such as a plasma in which the absorption coefficient is a stron g function of the wavelength. An S-N discrete ordinates method is used on a line-by-line basis to perform this task. Most of the results presented are for a pure-argon are; however, results indicating the effect of copper con tamination on the radiative quantities are also given. Comparisons between the pure-argon and copper-contaminated arcs show that a small amount of cop per greatly affects the radiative characteristics of the plasma.