A Simple Kinetic Model for a Helium ICP

Abstract
A simple kinetic model is proposed to describe the population of the n3P and n1P states of helium for principle quantum numbers, n, from 3 to 10 in a 27-MHz ICP. The model incorporates two decay channels, namely those of radiative decay and collisional relaxation, to simulate the population. The functional form of the collision probability is approximated with the use of the Rydberg cross sections for the principal quantum number of the state. Experimental results are presented and are consistent with this model.