Radiative and collisional effects in a cylindrically confined plasma—II. Absorption effects

A comprehensive model has been developed for radiation emission and absorption in cylindrically confined plasmas, and calculations have been performed for the asymptotic region of an argon arc plasma. Radiation absorption is shown, in general, to have a negligible effect on bound level populations. The exception is for the near wall region of the 35 A arc, for which self-absorption in the lines of the 4s-4p array has a significant effect. For the 4s-4p array, absorption also significantly reduces the radiation flux to the constrictor wall.