Effects of Nonelastic Collisions in Partially Ionized Gases II. Numerical Solution and Results

• Published in: The Physics of fluids (1958) 1970-02, Vol.13 (2), p.339-345
• Main Authors: Shaw, J. F., Mitchner, M., Kruger, C. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0031-9171; 2163-4998
• DOI: 10.1063/1.1692924

A numerical method of obtaining a self‐consistent solution of the coupled free electron Boltzmann equation and the rate equations for the populations of the excited levels of a monatomic gas is described, taking into account both nonelastic collisions and radiation losses. An iterative numerical scheme is used to obtain self‐consistent electron distribution functions, excited atom level populations, and ionization rates in a monatomic partially ionized gas. A special numerical filtering technique is used to obtain the distribution function. Results for hydrogen plasmas are presented and discussed. It is shown that photon escape and nonelastic collisions cause a depression in the distribution function tail, in the steady‐state electron number density, and in the collisional‐radiative ionization rate. Large radiation escape factors and low electron number densities lead to large depressions relative to equilibrium values. Results based on the analytical solutions of paper I are compared with the numerical results and found to be in good agreement.