Physical interpretation of a plasma (Te, Tv, Tr)

[rwooduk]

I'm trying to understand the physical implications of electron temperature (Te), vibrational temperature (Tv), rotational temperature (Tr) and translational temperature (To) of a plasma.

I am reading often that Te > Tv > Tr ≃To, in terms of what is happening inside the plasma what does this statement mean? Is the plasma in equilibrium? How can this be possible?

I am also a little confused why for non-equilibrium plasmas the above now becomes Te > Tv > Tr ≃Tg

Is this suggesting that the electron temperature governs the gas temperature (Tg)? Why is the first one To and here we have Tg?

Final question, I read in a paper that where Te and Tv are increased there will be "more drastic" conditions in the plasma. What does this mean? Does it mean the electrons in the gas have much more energy? Would they be more likely to "escape" the plasma if there was a means for it to do so?

Sorry if my terminology here is incorrect, it's been a while since I looked at plasmas. Thanks for any help with this!

 

[Charles Link]

Is the plasma in contact with anything that is at a lower temperature, such as in a glass tube? The electrons get affected the most by stimuli such as electromagnetic waves and/or electric fields such as in a discharge tube, which has a voltage difference in going from cathode to anode and associated electric fields to sustain it. The heavier ions don't react nearly as quickly and their temperature would be influenced by the walls of the discharge tube. This is probably a rather incomplete answer, but I have only some experience with plasmas and plasma physics. Perhaps others can supply additional insight.

 

[rwooduk]

Is the plasma in contact with anything that is at a lower temperature, such as in a glass tube? The electrons get affected the most by stimuli such as electromagnetic waves and/or electric fields such as in a discharge tube, which has a voltage and associated electric fields to sustain it. The heavier ions don't react nearly as quickly and their temperature would be influenced by the walls of the discharge tube. This is probably a rather incomplete answer, but I have only some experience with plasmas and plasma physics. Perhaps others can supply additional insight.

Thanks for the reply. The plasma is inside a cavitating bubble, therefore yes it is surrounded by water. It is not subject to EM waves or E fields. I am trying to understand how a change in each of the "temperatures" would effect the nature of the plasma.