Examination of the Validity of the Saha Equation in a Gas Discharge

The electron number density, ne , and the number densities of the various states, nk , in a steady-state partially-ionized gas are determined by a set of rate equations which describe the collisional and radiative rates at which the various states are populated and depopulated. Symbolically, these algebraic equations in ne and nk have the form Fe [ne, nk; f(v)] = 0, Fk [ne, nk; f(v)] with k = 1, 2, . . . N, and where f(v) is the free electron velocity distribution function. On the other hand, f(v) is determined by the electron Boltzmann equation. In the case of an applied electron field E, this is an integro-differential equation which may be written symbolically G[f(v); ne, nk; T, E] = 0, where T denotes the temperature of the heavy particles. It is apparent that a rigorous solution for the degree of ionization (and consequently the electrical conductivity) requires simultaneous solution of these coupled equations. In previous work, these equations have been examined separately. For example, Ben-Daniel and Tamor have solved the rate equations but have assumed f(v) to be Maxwellian. However, Dewan has shown that the solution of the rate equations is very sensitive to the form of f(v), particularly at large velocities. The solution of the Boltzmann equation with inelastic collisions (which presumably are important in determining the large velocity behaviour of f(v)) has been considered by Engelhardt and Phelps, as well as others, and it is known that even in the absence of inelastic collisions,' f(v)may depart significantly from a Maxwellian. Using numerical procedures, these coupled equations have been solved to give solutions which describe an alkali-metal-seeded noble gas at atmospheric pressure. Results are presented showing the effect of non-equilibrium phenomena on the degree of ionization and the electrical conductivity of the plasma. The effects, both of photon escape and of non-Maxwellian distribution function with depleted tail, are considered. Under some conditions, either mechanism may produce a degree of ionization considerably different from that predicted by the Saha equation at the electron temperature. (author)