On the violation of local thermodynamic equilibrium in the plasma jet of an argon arc two-jet plasmatron

Abstract

The degree and nature of the violation of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) in the analytical zone of a plasma jet generated by an argon arc two-jet plasmatron (TJP) was estimated using an unconventional method based on determination of the nonequilibrium parameterbiequal to the ratio of the experimentally determined actual population of the energy level (ni) of the element to the population of the same level calculated from the Saha equation (nis). Partial ionizing deviation of plasma under study from the equilibrium state takes place only when low-lying atomic levels are overpopulated. The distinct dependence ofbion the ionization potential of the considered element (e.g., Ca, Mg, and Be) is shown. The results were interpreted in the light of the increasing role of radiation processes upon excitation of spectra in the argon arc two-jet plasmatron.