The Influence of Particles Interaction in Low-Temperature Plasma on its Composition and Optical Properties

A model theory of the influence of particles interaction in plasma on its composition and optical properties is developed. The interaction of charged particles in plasma reduces the ionization energy of atoms and ions. The action of internal microfields in plasma on atoms and ions reduces the statistical weight of electron levels which affects the populations of excited states. The latter effect leads to an effective cutoff of partition functions and determines the behaviour of optical properties of plasma (of absorption coefficient and emissivity) at increased number densities of charged particles. The formulas are obtained for calculation of the continuous and discrete spectrum in plasma taking into account the particles interaction. A non-monotonic dependence of optical plasma density upon number density of charged particles is quantitatively explained. A satisfactory agreement is obtained with a large number of experimental data some of which were considered to be contradictory. The method developed can be used for calculations in the field of atomic spectroscopy and low-temperature plasma physics including increased densities of charged particles. The use of the formulas obtained in plasma diagnostics will enable one to avoid considerable errors.