Analysis of the optogalvanic effect in discharge plasmas using rate equations in a modified Schottky formalism

A rate analysis approach is used to evaluate an example of the recently observed optogalvanic effect in discharge plasmas. The coupling of level populations through radiative transitions and electron collisions is solved in a modified Schottky approximation for a glow discharge. The effects of radiation trapping, superelastic collisions, and buffer-gas pressures are treated in the analysis. The utilization of this effect for isotope separation is discussed.