Experimental Total and Total Line Radiation of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon Plasmas

Total radiation measurements for nitrogen, oxygen, and argon plasmas are presented for $\text{2000Å\hspace{0.17em}<\hspace{0.17em}λ\hspace{0.17em}<\hspace{0.17em}60 000Å}$ and for temperatures from 9000 to 15 000°K. These data are compared to previous measurements for the total continuum and to theoretical calculations for the total line radiation. The line radiation was found to be of the same order of magnitude as the total continuum. Taking into account the effect of absorption in the total radiation measurements, a lower limit is obtained for the accuracy of theoretical total line radiation calculations.