This post tries to come up with some theoretical background on the ECAT plasma reactors.
It assumes that the plasmas in these reactors where thick plasmas.
We have however no proof that this was the case.
Nevertheless ...
Plasma :
There are basically two types of plasmas, thin Plasma and thick Plasma.
In a thin Plasma the density of the Nuclei in the plasma is such that radiation inside the plasma can largely be radiated out of the plasma without being blocked by the nuclei.
This results in that the spectral discharge lines are separately visible.
In a thick plasma the density of the nuclei is such that most of the inner radiation is reabsorbed leading to an equilibrian of inner radiation and the radiation leaving the plasma is largely from the surface of the plasma.
This leads to a special shape of the intensity as a function of the frequency profile.
Such a profile is shown in the following figure.
-------------------------------------------------------Figure 1
The curve is largely flat.
At the higher thermal cutoff frequncy the intensity drops of very fast.
At the lower side the intensity drops off less fast.
Note that spectral lines with frequencies higher then the upper cutt-off frequency will still be shown.
Plasma temperature
Plasma temperature is due to the mobility of the electrons in the plasma.
Plasma temperature can be expressed in degree Kelvin (K) or in electron Volt (EV)
relationship between both is 1 eV equals 11605 degree Kelvin.
For the higher frequency cutt off as shown in the above figure the relationship between the cut off frequency and the plasma temperature is given by the following formula
ν = 2.8E10 x T----------------------------1)
This makes it possible to calculate the plasma temperature based on a measurement of the radiation as a function of the frequency using the upper cutt off frequency.
If the radiation of a thick plasma is uniform from the surface then it can be theoretical shown that the total radiation can be calculated with the following formula.
Q = A σ T4---------------------------------2)
See "Plasma Physics and Engineering" by Alexander Fridman and Lawrence A.Kennedy
Chapter 6.7.9
Now wait a moment !
Formula 2 is the same formula as for calculating the radiation of a black body !
I wonder if nature wanted to play a trick on us because this can lead to some people believe that a thick plasma is a black body.
However it isn't , as can be seen the shape of the spectrum of a thick plasma as shown in figure 1 is completely different from that of the radiated spectrum of a black body as given by Planck's law.
Only the formula for calculating the radiated energy is the same.
If you based on formula 2 wrongfully consider the thick plasma to be a black body then you are possibly also intended to calculate the peak wave length of the black body radiation using Wien's displacement law.
However this calculated peak wavelength does not exist for the plasma, it is virtual and can not be measured or shown.
It can only be used as a comparason value if you want to compare the thick plasma with a black body.
And reporting such a virtual wavelength can lead to confusion when people do not see this peak frequency in the reported spectrum.