The Ion Temperature in a Plasma with Hot Electrons

The ratio between electron temperature and ion temperature in a hot plasma is calculated, using the following assumptions. The ion life time in the plasma is considered to be large as compared to the time required for the energy relaxation between different ion species. Ion confinement is due to an electrostatic potential well resulting from ambipolar diffusion in a trap confining the electrons. The different heating and cooling processes are considered and it is found that the ion temperature is proportional to the square of the average charge state of the plasma.