Effect of High Altitude on The Optical Refractive Index of LTE Gas Discharge Plasma

Abstract

The optical refractive index of the discharge channel is a necessary parameter for calculating its gas temperature. Fully understanding the influence of high altitude on the optical refractive index of the discharge channel is the basis for accurately calculating the gas temperature of the discharge channel and revealing the law of discharge development at high altitude. Therefore, based on Dalton's partial pressure law, Saha's law, mass action law, stoichiometric conservation principle and the dispersion relationship of plasma, this paper establishes the physical model of the optical refractive index of LTE gas discharge plasma at high altitude; We studied the optical refractive index characteristics of LTE gas discharge plasma and the effect of pressure on it. The results show that the ambient gas pressure decreases with the increase of altitude, which changes the number density of molecules, atoms, ions and electrons in the discharge channel at the same gas temperature, and then has a significant impact on the optical refractive index of the discharge channel. The research results of this paper can provide a reference for calculating and measuring the gas temperature of the discharge channel at high altitudes.