Algorithms for modeling and processing spatial information in heterogeneous plasma discharges

Procedures are described for modeling and analyzing optical phenomena in bilaterally symmetric plasma discharges. Discharge shape, emission, absorption, background subtraction, and spatial instability are considered, and provision is made for imperfect imaging properties of the observation system. Algorithms are presented for interconverting lateral, laboratory information concerning a plasma discharge and radial, chemical information concerning the discharge. Various non-idealities and non-emissive processes may be modeled. The assumptions made are that the discharge is cylindrically symmetric and is viewed in a manner which preserves this symmetry; that the optical system non-ideality is limited to depth-of-field distortions, which can be corrected; and that emission and absorption take place in concentric but segregated regions of the discharge, with emission occurring closer to the discharge core. There are known limitations to this model, and any seemingly inconsistent results in experimental applications will indicate that processes not accounted for are active