Lowering of the Ionization Potential of an Atom in a High Temperature and High Density Plasma

摘要

Lowering of the ionization potentials of hydrogen and carbon atoms immersed in a high temperature and high density thermal plasma generated in a Maecker-type wall stabilized arc have been estimated from the advance or shift of their respective series limits in the vacuum ultraviolet region of the spectrum for different electron densities and temperatures, making use of the Inglis-Teller criterion. The question of the validity of a critical electron density is discussed. In addition, the physical significance of using the shift of the series limit in the Saha equation as the term equivalent to the lowering of the ionization potential is also considered. (Author)