Axial and radial temperature profiles in a weakly ionized argon jet

Abstract

Diagnostic studies were made on a supersonic (Mach 2.5) weakly ionized plasma jet in argon. Electrical probe techniques were used in conjunction with spectroscopic and photographic methods. The results indicate a fairly uniform axial behavior of temperature, but the radial profiles show considerable variation. Temperature measurements made by different methods disagree sufficiently to show a probable lack of equilibrium between translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic excitation energy modes.