Comparison between Gibbs free energy minimization and mass action law for a multitemperature plasma with application to nitrogen

This paper gives all the necessary physical equations to determine the composition and the thermodynamic properties in a multitemperature plasma utilizing two different methods: the first method is based on Gibbs free energy minimization and the second is based on the resolution of the mass action law. The lowering terms of the ionization potential and thermodynamic properties are given for a multitemperature plasma using the Debye-Hückel approximation. Numerical application is made to a nitrogen plasma.