Decay of inert-gas-discharge plasma in the expansion mode. Part 1: Dynamics of the plasma ionization state,criterion of recombination nonequilibrium,and experimental study of argon plasma decay

The influence of expansion of a pulsed arc plasma on its decay is studied theoretically and experimentally with allowance for deviation from the equilibrium state. The dynamics of the ionization state during the decay of a dense expanding plasma is traced, and a criterion of its recombination nonequilibrium is determined. The results of calculation are compared with experimental data by the example of a pulsed arc in argon.