The study of a supersonic jet of rarefied argon plasma

We have carried out an experimental study of a supersonic jet of argon plasma flowing in a rarefied medium. We have measured the distribution of total thrust along the axis of the jet at various temperatures in the arc chamber of the plasmatron. Using spectroscopic methods, we obtained the axial and radial distributions of the electron concentration and temperature and of the concentration of excited atoms. With the help of a probe we measured the electron temperature and concentration at large distances from the nozzle tip.