Characterization of compact bright soft X-ray source based on picosecond laser plasma

Radiation emission of silicon and aluminum plasmas produced by 40-ps laser pulses with peak intensity above 10¹⁴ W/cm² was studied. High-resolution soft X-rayspectra of H-like and He-like ions were analyzed to determine plasma parameters. We compared the line shape of resonance transitions and their intensity ratios to corresponding dielectronic satellites and the intensities of the intercombination lines of He-like ions with the results of model calculations. Such comparisons gave average values of the electron number density N_e=(1-1.9)×10²¹ cm^-3 and the electron temperature T_e=460–560 eV for Si plasmas and about 560 eV for Al plasmas produced by the first and the second laser harmonics. The plasma size is about 100 μm. According to our estimations, more than 10¹² photons were produced within the resonance line spectral width and in the solid angle 2π during the total decay period. PACS 41.50.+h; 52.25.Os; 52.50.Jm     

Spectral analysis of K-shell X-ray emission of magnesium plasma produced by ultrashort high-intensity laser pulse irradiation

Spectral analysis of K-shell X-ray emission of magnesium plasma, produced by laser pulses of 45 fs duration, focussed up to an intensity of ～10¹⁸ W cm^?2, is carried out. The plasma conditions prevalent during the emission of X-ray spectrum were identified by comparing the experimental spectra with the synthetic spectra generated using the spectroscopic code PrismSPECT. It is observed that He-like resonance line emission occurs from the plasma region having sub-critical density, whereas K-α emission arises from the bulk solid heated to a temperature of 10 eV by the impact of hot electrons. K-α line from Be-like ions was used to estimate the hot electron temperature. A power law fit to the electron temperature showed a scaling of I ^0.47 with laser intensity.     

五通道Z箍缩等离子体K壳层线谱成像

采用5个针孔配接5块对数螺线晶体单色器方案,研制了一台五通道靶室内置式X射线单色成像器,并利用该成像器在阳加速器上成功获取了铝丝阵负载Z箍缩内爆等离子体的K壳层自辐射五通道单色线谱图像。该成像器结构紧凑,安装调节简便精准,能谱分辨力高（小于1.3 eV）,能够清楚分辨Al的类氦主共振线（1 598.4 eV）和互组合线（1 588.3 eV）,以及类氢主共振线（1729 eV）及其伴线（1 727.7 eV）光谱图像。由于阳加速器驱动能力有限,这些图像均由若干的离散热斑组成,并且大都集中在柱状等离子体轴线上,说明这些热斑附近的电子温度和密度较周围要高;类氦主共振线较类氢主共振线图像强度高、热斑区域大,反映了Z箍缩等离子体温度不够高,原子被激发到类氢离子的数量远少于类氦离子。     

On the role of prepulses during solid target heating by picosecond laser pulses

X-ray emission spectra of the plasma created at the surface of magnesium, aluminum, copper, and zinc targets heated by 1-ps laser pulses with a peak power density of up to 10¹⁶ W/cm² were measured. The effect of a picosecond prepulse on the spectra was studied for various power densities and intensity contrasts of the main laser pulse. It is established that the emission spectra of laser plasmas are weakly affected by a change from 10⁵ to 10⁷ in the main pulse contrast relative to the first prepulse. Variations in the parameters of emission from aluminum and magnesium plasmas were calculated using relative intensities and widths of the resonance lines of H-and He-like ions and their two-electron satellite peaks.     

极化X光谱诊断铝激光等离子体的电子密度

为了准确诊断激光等离子体的电子密度,提出了一种基于极化光谱的类氦共振线与互组合线相对强度比诊断电子密度的方法.该法考虑了激光等离子体发射的X射线存在极化的特性,用极化光谱理论对测量的类氦共振线和互组合线光谱相对强度比进行精密校正,再推导等离子体的电子密度.在2×10 J激光装置上进行了实验,使用极化PET（002）晶体谱仪测量了Al类氦离子光谱,利用光谱的极化特性推出Al等离子体的电子密度约为1.5×1020 cm－3.结果表明极化X光谱推导等离子体电子密度方法适合激光高温高密等离子体诊断.     

X-ray spectroscopy diagnostics of a recombining plasma in laboratory astrophysics studies

The investigation of a recombining laser plasma is topical primarily because it can be used to simulate the interaction between plasma jets in astrophysical objects. It has been shown that the relative intensities of transitions of a resonance series of He-like multicharged ions can be used for the diagnostics of the recombining plasma. It has been found that the intensities of the indicated transitions for ions with the nuclear charge number Z _n ~ 10 are sensitive to the plasma density in the range N _e ~ 10¹⁶–10²⁰ cm^–3 at temperatures of 10–100 eV. The calculations performed for the F VIII ion have determined the parameters of plasma jets created at the ELFIE nanosecond laser facility (Ecole Polytechnique, France) in order to simulate astrophysical phenomena. The resulting universal calculation dependences can be used to diagnose different recombining plasmas containing helium-like fluorine ions.     

Application of snow nanograin targets for the generation of fast ions in femtosecond laser plasma

We have measured the energy of the directed motion of multiply charged ions produced when solid targets are exposed to low-contrast (10^?3–10^?2) femtosecond laser pulses with intensities 10¹⁵–10¹⁶ W cm^?2. The measurements are based on the recording of spatially resolved X-ray spectra for H-and He-like oxygen ions in the target plane. Analysis of the He_β and Ly_α line profiles has revealed fractions of accelerated ions in plasma with energies from several to several tens of kiloelectronvolts. We show that using a layer of frozen nanometer-size water droplets as the targets leads to an effective absorption of laser pulses and a twofold rise in the energy (to 0.1 MeV) of He-like oxygen ions compared to the use of solid targets.     

Investigation of X-ray Emission from Plasmas Created by NIXE 6-nsec Nd: Glass Laser System

This paper reports details on the design of the Nd: glass laser facility NIXE at the Central Institute of Optics and Spectroscopy, including the target chamber and the x-ray diagnostics, spatial and temporal behaviour of the 1.06 μm radiation generated are given. Plane, massive targets of aluminium and silicon have been irradiated with 6-nsec FWHM laser pulses. Investigations of laser produced Al- and Si-plasmas have been performed with spectral and spatial high resolution diagnostics, consisting of a 3 channel crystal-spectrometer, 2 crystal-microscopes, and 2 pinhole cameras and the results are presented. Line spectra have been interpreted within the hypothesis of a steady state coronal equilibrium. He-like lines of the Al-plasma indicate temperatures up to 400 eV and densities up to 2 · 10²⁰ cm^?3. Total x-ray photon flux in the He-like resonance line has been calculated giving 10¹³ phot/ster.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of carbon and aluminum laser-produced plasmas

VUV emission spectra of plasmas produced by focusing laser radiation with intensity of 10¹⁰–10¹¹ W/cm² on carbon and aluminum targets were studied. Using the partial local thermodynamic equilibrium model for an electron density exceeding 10¹⁷ cm^?3, the spectroscopic diagnostics and the analysis of ion composition of plasmas were carried out. The electron temperatures determined for carbon and aluminum plasmas from the ratio of intensities of ionic lines were found to be 8±3 eV and 11±4 eV, respectively. Stark broadening of aluminum lines was measured and parameters of electron broadening were determined. Using the spatially resolved measurement of Stark line broadening, the spatial density distribution and the law of electron gas expansion were found. The electron gas in the hot region of size 5 mm with an average density of (5±2) 10₁₇cm ^?3 experienced one-dimensional expansion according to the law 1/z ^1.1 with increasing distance z from the target.     

Observation of X-ray spectra from nitrogen clusters irradiated with high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses

X-ray spectra from nitrogen clusters irradiated with ultrashort laser pulses are reported. The line spectra of H-like and He-like nitrogen ions have been observed by irradiation with 100 fs, 800 nm pulses at 7×10¹⁷ W/cm² irradiance. The generation of highly charged ions of N⁶⁺ and N⁷⁺ is explained by the optical field-induced ionization and the subsequent collisional ionizations in the clusters. The He-δline has anomalously high brightness compared to other He-like lines. It is ascribed to charge exchange, which preferentially populates the n=5 level of N⁵⁺. Received: 7 October 1999 / Published online: 23 February 2000     

用极化晶体谱仪探测X射线极化度

为了研究等离子体各向异性及确定高温等离子体中电子束的存在,研制了X射线极化晶体谱仪,探讨了极化光谱学的理论,推演了X射线极化度的计算方法.谱仪能够在两个相互垂直的方向分别对X射线进行探测,垂直方向晶体分析器使用云母球面晶体,水平方向为PET平面晶体,摄谱元件采用成像板.在激光聚变研究中心2×10 J激光装置上进行了摄谱实验.实验结果表明,PET晶体分光效果理想,获得了铝的类He共振线(w)、磁四级M2跃迁x线、互组合跃迁y线以及禁戒谱线z线,适合于研究X射线极化光谱学;云母晶体得到铝的类He共振线,其伴线光谱不明显.分析了谱仪垂直方向信号微弱的原因,提出了改进极化晶体谱仪的方案.     

Spectrum of X-ray emission from nsec CO2-laser produced (CH2)n and A1 plasmas

Studies of the X-ray emission from nsec CO₂ laser produced plasmas indicate a stronger deviation of the electron distribution from equilibrium for a (CH₂)_n plasma than for an A1 plasma. The lowest spectral temperature measured is ～ 300 eV at the maximum flux of 5 × 10¹²W·cm^-2.     

Influence of Plasma Resistance and Fluctuation on Probe Characteristics in Detached Recombining Plasmas

In order to find the causes of the strong anomaly of current‐voltage characteristics of Langmuir probe observed in detached recombining plasmas in a linear divertor plasma simulator, NAGDIS‐II, we have investigated plasma resistance along a magnetic field and potential fluctuations in the detached recombining plasmas. Simple calculation on the ratio between the plasma length, at which plasma resistance and resistance of ion sheath formed around a probe tip become equal, and an electron collection length indicates that the evaluation of electron temperature T_e becomes inaccurate at T_e of less than 0.6 eV when plasma density and neutral pressure are 1.0 × 10¹⁸ m^—3 and 10 mtorr, respectively. The potential fluctuation in detached recombining plasmas was found to be so large compared to T_e/e, which can also modify the probe characteristics.     

Temperature measurements in plasmas generated by using lasers at different intensities

The temperature of laser-generated pulsed plasmas is an important property that depends on many parameters, such as the particle species and the time elapsed from the laser interaction with the matter and the surface characteristics.

Laser-generated plasmas with low intensity (<10¹⁰ W/cm²) at INFN-LNS of Catania and with high intensity (>10¹⁴ W/cm²) in PALS laboratory in Prague have been investigated in terms of temperatures relative to ions, electrons, and neutral species. Time-of-flight (ToF) measurements have been performed with an electrostatic ion energy analyzer (IEA) and with different Faraday cups, in order to measure the ion and electron average velocities. The IEA was also used to measure the ion energy, the ion charge state, and the ion energy distribution.

The Maxwell–Boltzmann function permitted to fit the experimental data and to extrapolate the ion temperature of the plasma core.

The velocity of the neutrals was measured with a special mass quadrupole spectrometer. The Nd:Yag laser operating at low intensity produced an ion temperature core of the order of 400 eV and a neutral temperature of the order of 100 eV for many ablated materials. The ToF of electrons indicates the presence of hot electron emission with an energy of ～1 keV.     

Measuring magnetic fields in plasmas by means of light scattering

The theory of light scattering in plasmas containing a magnetic field yields the special case of modulated scattering spectra. The modulation frequency is governed by the field in the plasma and is equal to the electron cyclotron frequency. In this investigation magnetic fields in a plasma were determined by a laser scattering experiment. The experimental data were: electron densityn _e=10¹⁶cm^?3, electron temperatureT _e=3.2 eV, scattering angle θ=90 °, scattering parameter α=0.6, and a maximum field in the plasma of 125 kG. The spectrum measured at the maximum magnetic field was modulated with 3.6 × 10¹¹ Hz. In scattering experiments with a field reduced by about 20% the observed modulation frequency was 2.8 × 10¹¹ Hz. A thermal spectrum with a smooth profile was found when no field was present in the plasma. Applying the theory of cyclotron modulated spectra one obtains from the scattering experiment magnetic fields of 128, 100, and 0 kG. Within the experimental accuracy these values agree well with the fields determined by means of magnetic probes. Other possible interpretations of the measured deviations from thermal spectra (modulation with the plasma frequency or additional cold electron components in the plasma) are discussed, but they afford no explanation. This experiment has domonstrated that magnetic fields in plasmas can be measured locally and almost without disturbance by means of light scattering.     

Anomalous Cs I 5d-5⨍ lineshape in a non-debye plasma

Laser-induced cesium plasmas were diagnosed by emission spectroscopy, yielding electron densities in the range N_e = 10¹⁶?5 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3 and electron temperatures in the range T_e = 0.2-1 eV. The experimental lineshapes for T_e = 0.5 eV were found to be in good agreement with theory. For the more strongly coupled plasmas at N_e = 1-2 × 10¹⁶ cm^-3 and T_e = 0.2 eV, however, the Cs I 5d-5? lineshape was more asymmetric than predicted.     

Optical properties of laser-produced plasmas from Cd and layered crystalline CdAl2Se4 targets

An experimental investigation into emission by plasmas from Cd and crystalline CdAl₂Se₄ targets irradiated with a pulse-periodic YAG: Nd³⁺ laser is presented. The laser operates at a pulse width of 20 ns and provides 1−2×10⁹ W/cm² at the focus. The spectral and time characteristics of the emission are examined. The main findings are as follows: (1) The strongest lines correspond to the transitions from the 6³ S ₁ and 5³ D ₂ levels of Cd I. (2) With the Cd target, the recombination bottlenecks are 5² D _5/2 of Cd II (E _up=20.11 eV) and 8³ D _{1, 3} of Cd I (E _up=8.60–8.65 eV). (3) The average electron temperature outside the core of the plume is 0.64 eV. (4) For the 508.6-nm line of Cd I, the high filling rate of the 6³ S ₁ upper energy level may be related to the rapid recombination of cadmium ions with electrons via the intermediate levels of Cd⁻ at 6.82 and 7.24 eV.     

CO2-laser gas discharges in narrow gaps

We have studied RF discharges as excitation mechanisms for distributed feedback (DFB) CO₂ lasers. For CO₂ laser plasmas the reduced electric fieldE/N has to be in a well-defined range. The reduced electric fieldsE/N of gas discharges in the narrow gaps with widths of the order of 100 m required for DFB are considerably above this range. In order to study the feasibility of these RF-excited discharges for DFB CO₂ lasers we have measured the electron temperatureT _e in their plasmas. From helium-line-intensity ratios we have deduced a lower limit of the electron temperatureT _e of 4eV. The observed high intensities of bands of singly ionized nitrogen indicate an even higher electron temperature, but an efficient pumping of the upper laser level is not possible with an electron temperature above 2.5 eV.We have estimated the electron densityn _e and the current densityj _e from ratios of the intesities of forbidden and allowed helium lines. The high current densityj _e is in the range of abnormal glow discharges.In the gas discharges between narrow gaps the electron oscillation amplitudex _e is large than the electrode separationd. In order to replace the resulting high electron losses a high electron temperatureT _e is necessary to sustain the gas discharge. Because of this high electron temperatureT _e an efficient pumping of the upper laser level is not possible.     

The energy of thermal electrons in electron beam created helium discharges

We have measured the electron energy of the thermal group of electrons in both longitudinal and transverse electron beam created helium glow discharges. The measurement technique employs the ratio of intensities of spectral lines in the 2s³S?np³P He I series. Values of kT_e between 0.07 and 0.11 eV were obtained. These energies are typical of the beam-generated electric field free plasmas. The competitive loss of helium ions by recombination and by charge transfer in a He?Hg electron beam created plasma is calculated. The results are applied to the Hg⁺ laser pumping scheme using a electron beam created He?Hg plasma.     

Kinetics of radiation cooling of fullerenes

Emission from fullerene molecules excited by means of electron impact in crossed beams under conditions of single collisions between electrons and C₆₀ molecules in a kinetic energy range E _e from 25 to 100 eV was studied experimentally. Emission spectra in a wavelength range from 300 to 800 nm; the emission excitation functions and the temperature of emitting molecules as a function of E _e were measured with a resolution of 1.6–3.2 nm. The contribution to emission from ionized C ₆₀ ^+* molecules has been determined and data on the emissivity of the C ₆₀ ^+* ion have been obtained. It has been shown that the emission spectra can be well approximated with the spectral distribution of thermal emission from a black body (Planck’s formula), taking into account the lowering of emissivity for a small particle. The emission can be observed starting with electron energy of about 27 eV; the emission excitation function is of a nonresonant form, peaking at an energy of E _e ≈70 eV. As E _e is increased, the temperature of emitting particles rises and reaches its maximum value of 3100–3200 K at E _e ≈47 eV.