Spectral and electrical diagnostics of gliding arc

Using spectroscopic and electric measurements, vibrational and rotational molecular gas temperatures as well as free electron temperature and concentration were determined in different regions of a time-periodical type, atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium low current gliding are. It was shown that this discharge includes an initial quasi-equilibrium zone, with the quasi-equilibrium temperature of 4 to 6 kK, and the non-equilibrium zone with the electron temperature about 10 kK, the vibrational temperature about 3 kK, rotational and translational temperatures from 1 to 1.5 kK. The transition between two mentioned zones coincides with the phenomenon of the are ''length explosion'' already observed in moderate-current gliding are.