Effect of Atomic Excited States on Transport Properties of Thermal Plasmas

The role of excited states in affecting the transport of ionization energy in thermal plasmas in hydrogen thermal plasmas in the temperature range 10000<T<25000 K is discussed by taking into account the dependence of diffusion type collision integrals on principal quantum number of atomic hydrogen. The results show a strong effect at high pressure while compensation effects reduce the role of excited states at atmospheric pressure. Extension of the results to non equilibrium situations is discussed by presenting calculations of effective multicomponent diffusion coefficients. In this case too the presence of excited states is such to dramatically affect these coefficients.