The type and extent of non-LTE in argon arcs at 0.1-10 bar

Abstract

A 30-A, 3-mm-diameter, wall-stabilized argon arc with 1% hydrogen is examined spectrometrically at pressures of 0.1-10 bar. Values of T/sub g/, and T/sub exa/ diverge as pressure decreases below 5 bar (n/sub e/<or=1*10/sup 17/ cm/sup -3/) at r=0. T/sub ex beta / is 20-40% larger than the other temperatures. The results are dependent on the transition probability scale used.<<ETX>>