Excitation temperature measurements in an argon-CO/sub 2/ thermal plasma

The excitation temperature is measured in an argon-CO/sub 2/ thermal plasma by optical emission spectroscopy. The theoretical calculations of concentration used to determine excitation temperature and also the numerical Abel inversion are presented. The effect of CO/sub 2/ molecule upon this plasma is studied as a function of the Ar-CO/sub 2/ mixture composition and discharge current. The excitation temperature is ranging from 7000 K to 11000 K, and excitation temperature gradient from 200 K/mm to 600 K/mm.