Role of atom–atom inelastic collisions in two-temperature nonequilibrium plasmas

Abstract

The contribution of inelastic atom–atom collisions to the production of electrons and excited atoms in two-temperature (with electron temperature Te, atomic temperature Ta, and atomic density Na), steady-state, nonequilibrium atomic hydrogen plasma is investigated. The results are valid for plasmas having large amounts of atomic hydrogen as one of the plasma components, so that e–H and H–H inelastic collisions and interaction of these atoms with radiation dominate the production of electrons and excited hydrogen atoms. Densities of electrons and excited atoms are calculated in low-temperature plasma, with Te and Ta≤8000 K and 1016 cm−3 ≤Na≤1018 cm−3, and with different degrees of the reabsorption of radiation. The results indicate that inelastic atom–atom collisions are important for production of electrons and excited atoms in partially ionized plasmas with medium and high atomic density and temperatures below 8000 K.