Temperature of the Meggers–Corliss–Scribner copper arc

Abstract

By use of intensity data from the well-known compilation of Meggers, Corliss, and Scribner (MCS) and the more-accurate oscillator strengths of Wiese, Smith, and Miles for magnesium, calcium, and aluminum, the temperature of the MCS copper arc can be determined to be 6000 K. Demixing effects are minimal for these elements. The revised copper-arc temperature allows more-accurate gf values to be calculated for a variety of elements, although values for transitions originating in high-energy states (Eu > 50 000 cm−1) will still contain significant errors. For the iron and tungsten systems, such errors are substantially less than previously claimed.