Loss of equilibrium and the quasistationary state in an expanding recombining plasma

The authors consider the loss of equilibrium in a nonsteady plasma and obtain criteria for the loss of ionization equilibrium, the equilibrium distribution of levels, and thermal equilibrium for the expansion of a plasma which is initially in equilibrium. The closely related conditions for a quasistationary occupation of the excited states in a recombining plasma are studied. The properties of the nonlinear and nondiagnonal matrix to the leading derivatives in the system of equations of diffusion and energy for a multielement plasma in an ideal multielement plasma are investigated.