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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2004
The effects of CO2 molecules upon an argon thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure are studied by optical emission spectroscopy. The excitation temperature, heavy particles temperature and electron density are measured as a function of Ar-CO2 mixture composition and discharge current. The excitation temperature is ranging from 7000 K to 12000 K, electron density from 3 × 1021 m−3 to 5.6 × 1022 m−3 and heavy particles temperature of the peripherical region of the column from 6000 K to 7000 K. Excitation temperature and electron density gradients are evaluated. The influence of the arc confinement is studied and departure from local thermal equilibrium is also discussed.