A non-LTE argon cascaded arc plasma is studied and modelled with the general plasma simulation program PLASIMO. The structure of PLASIMO is flexible and transparent, so that apart from the study given in the present paper several other multicomponent stationary plasmas in a wide pressure range (10 −3 to 1 bar), from local thermal equilibrium (LTE) to non-LTE, and with different energy coupling mechanisms can be simulated as well. The modular structure is divided into three main parts: the transport part which forms the heart of the model, the plasma configuration part, and the composition part. The latter two parts define the input parameters for the transport part and are controlled by the PLASIMO user. The three parts are again divided into separate modules. The strong modularity makes PLASIMO easy to handle and easy to adjust or expand. Results of PLASIMO applied on the cascaded arc are compared with experimental data and show reasonable agreement. The influence of the boundary conditions on the simulation results is discussed.

. (1991). A novel collisional radiative model with a numerical bottom and an analytical top.

Abstract. The total radiative loss in atmospheric argon plasmas is calculated allowing for deviations from local Saha equilibrium LSE. We have taken into account non-equilibrium excited state populations using numerical and analytical collisional-radiative models. Simple expressions for the different radiation loss mechanisms are given in terms of the electron density, electron temperature and Ionization degree. These quantities together with the heavy particle temperature also define the deviation from equilibrium. In the recombining zones the effect of non-equilibrium will have significant influence on the total radiative loss due to line radiation. The domlnancy results from the iacl that the electron density in a recombining plasma is much larger than the value predicted by Saha. The results of this study can also be used for non-atmospheric argon plasma provided that n, > 5 x 10lg m-3 and n(1)d z iozo m-* in which d is the plasma dimension.

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