The non-LTE plasmas can be described by a two temperature
model: an electron temperature (Te) and a heavy
particle temperature (Th). Regarding the huge mass difference
between electrons and heavy particles, the plasma
temperature (or gas temperature) is fixed by Th. The higher
the departure from LTE, the higher the difference between Te
and Th is.
Table 1 sums up the main characteristics of LTE and nonLTE
plasmas.