Experimental transition probabilities for several spectral lines arising from the 5d 6s{8s, 7p, 5f, 5g} electronic configurations of Pb III

Transition probabilities for 30 spectral lines, arising from the 5d¹⁰ 6s{8s, 7p, 5f, 5g} electronic configurations of Pb III (20 measured for the first time), have been experimentally determined from measurements of emission line intensities in a plasma lead induced by ablation with a Nd:YAG laser. The line intensities were obtained with the target placed in molecular argon at 6 Torr, recorded at a 400 ns delay from the laser pulse, which provides appropriate measurement conditions, and analysed between 200 and 700 nm. They are measured when the plasma reaches local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). The plasma under study had an electron temperature (T) of 21,400 K and an electron number density (N_e) of 7×10¹⁶ cm⁻³. The influence of self-absorption has been estimated for every line, and plasma homogeneity has been checked. The values obtained were compared with previous experimental values and theoretical estimates where possible.     

Oscillator strengths of ultraviolet V(II) lines (2290–2530 Å) from emission measurements in a stabilized arc

An argon-vanadium plasma has been produced in a wall-stabilized arc. The metal was introduced into the arc as an oxide powder suspended in flowing argon. Before introduction into the arc channel, the suspension was pulsed towards an auxilliary plasma source. The plasma radiation was photographed in the u.v. spectral region with a 10m concave grating vacuum spectrograph using an Eagle mounting. Relative calibration of the emulsions was carried out by using the intensities in the wings of the 2478 and 1931 Å lines of C(I) emitted by an Ar-CO₂ plasma; the primary standard radiation was provided by the continuum emitted from this plasma, which was produced in a stabilized arc. Plasma diagnostics were performed assuming LTE. Absolute gf-values for 33 V(II) lines in the range 2290–2530 Å have been evaluated using a computer program for statistical treatment of the data. Comparisons with theoretical calculations often show discrepancies that are larger than estimated experimental error limit.     

Emission characteristics of a barrier discharge in an Ar-H2O mixture

We have experimentally studied the UV radiation of a low-temperature barrier discharge plasma in an Ar-H₂O mixture. The spectral interval 300–400 nm has been examined in detail. Addition of argon with a pressure of 24 kPa to a barrier discharge in water vapor at a pressure of ～0.1 kPa leads to a ninefold increase in the UV radiation power of excited hydroxyl molecules. An increase in the duration of the UV radiation pulse of the mixture in the longitudinal discharge decay has been achieved for the first time, which may be direct evidence of energy transfer from metastable argon atoms to water molecules. An estimate of the upper boundary of the dissociative excitation rate constant of hydroxyl molecules OH*(A ²Σ⁺) upon interaction of metastable argon atoms with water molecules has been obtained.     

Measurement of the Stark broadening parameters of some singly ionized argon lines

Half-widths of fifteen Stark broadened argon II lines have been measured in argon plasma behind the reflected shock wave produced in an electromagnetically driven “T” tube. The plasma electron density was determined by the laser interferometry at three different wavelengths, while the plasma temperature was measured from relative intensities of A II lines. Temperatures were in the range 8,500–16,500 °K; electron densities varied from 1.82 to 3.94 · 10¹⁷ cm^?3. The measured A II linewidths are compared with theoretical and other experimental results. It is shown that a) the broadening of A II lines is in good agreement with the theory, b) line broadening increases linearly with electron density, and c) the Stark broadened lines follow the dispersion profile to the distance of at least three halfwidths from the line center.     

Effect of the spectral distribution of a chirped pulse on the interaction of the high-power laser radiation with matter

The interaction of high-power picosecond laser radiation with solid targets is experimentally studied for the first time at various spectral distributions of a chirped laser pulse. The interaction of the high-power laser radiation with the target is studied at four regimes of the experimental setup: (i) at a relatively high contrast (10³) in the picosecond (Δt ～ 25 ps) range, (ii) at a relatively low contrast (3 × 10¹) in the picosecond (Δt ～ 25 ps) range, (iii) with spectral distortions of the chirped pulse, and (iv) with a strongly modulated spectrum of the chirped pulse. The results obtained reveal a strong dependence of the atomic and nuclear processes in the laser picosecond plasma on the spectral distribution of the chirped laser pulse. The prospects for the application of the spectral interferometry of chirped pulses for the online control of the parameters of the high-power laser radiation are demonstrated.     

Lyman transitions of high rovibrationally excited H2, HD and D2 molecules

Energies and probabilities of Lyman transitions of high rovibrationally excited H₂, HD and D₂ molecules have been measured and compared with calculations. The experimental results are obtained from laser-induced fluorescence spectra that have been recorded in the spectral range from 60 500 to 83 500 cm⁻¹, covering 2/3 of the hydrogen Lyman band system. The necessary vacuum-UV radiation is produced by stimulated anti-Stokes Raman scattering, providing a widely tunable radiation source with narrow spectral bandwidth to resolve single Lyman transitions. The highest internal energies of detected hydrogen isotopologues are close to the dissociation limit. This extends the available data base of Lyman transitions from and to higher rotational states (J > 10) of HD and D₂.     

Experimental transition probabilities in the Ar III and Ar IV UV spectra

We present transition probabilities (Einstein's A values) for 38 Ar III (doubly ionized argon) and 14 Ar IV (triply ionized argon) spectral lines from the wavelength interval 240–308 nm. Considered spectral lines are recorded in laboratory pulsed discharge. The relative line intensity ratio procedure has been applied in evaluation of transition probabilities. As a reference for transition probability evaluation we have chosen A value of 241.884 nm spectral line in Ar III spectrum and A value of 280.947 nm in Ar IV spectrum, both obtained theoretically. Careful analysis of experimental and existing theoretical data is conducted in order to deduce uncertainties. Presented Ar III and Ar IV A values are for the first time obtained relying on experimental data.     

Spectroscopic studies of a plasma temperature and radiation standard based on a wall-stabilized arc

The absolute determination of the axial temperature (12,000 K ≤ T ≤ 14,500 K, 0.9×10²³ m^-3 ≤ N_e ≤2.5×10^-3 m^-3 of a 3 mm bore wall-stabilized arc operating in argon at 1.75×10⁵ Pa is described using spectroscopic techniques both in the visible and vacuum u.v. spectral regions. Computer simulation techniques to predict the line wing correction for the A(I) line at 430 nm and a detailed study of sources of systematic error have been applied. The reproducibility of the temperature results and the establishment of LTE demonstrates the suitability of the source as a plasma temperature and radiation standard. A detailed study of the Stark broadening of H_β and the comparison of the experimental profiles with the theories of Kepple and Griem and Vidal, Cooper and Smith has shown the former giving N_e values some 11% lower and the latter 1% higher than the pure argon diagnostics at N_e ? 2 × 10²³ m^-3. New values for the argon transition probabilities of two lines and continuum factors at two wavelengths are presented.     

Observation of dielectronic satellites in the K-spectrum of argon ions in plasma produced by femtosecond laser pulses

The satellite structure of 1s2p ^1,3 P ₁-1s ²¹ S ₀ lines of the He-like argon ion in plasma produced by a 45-fs laser pulse in a gas-jet cluster target is measured with a high spectral resolution. Radiation transitions 2p → 1s from autoionizing states (AISs) are detected for ions ranging from Li-like to F-like. The spectrum observed is theoretically simulated with the use of the spectroscopic data for the AISs of multicharged ions obtained within the multiconfiguration relativistic Hartree-Fock method. Good agreement with experimental data is obtained when the main population channels of these states are taken into account for typical values of cluster-target plasma parameters.     

The continuous emission of argon in the visible spectral range

The continuous emission of a cascade arc operated in argon at atmospheric pressure was investigated using side-on intensity measurements in the spectral range 3,700–7,000 å. Agreement to within the accuracy of the measurement was found between the present experimental continuum data and Schlüter's theoretical values. Recently published experimental results forλ≦4,000 å andλ≈ 6,500 å were confirmed.     

Density effects on the spectral emission of a high temperature argon plasma

In order to explain the detailed features of radiation spectra obtained from dense argon plasmas, an ionization-radiation model for argon has been constructed which calculates time-integrated spectra as a function of plasma temperature, density and size. The model describes a plasma in collisional-radiative equilibrium (CRE) by solving the time-dependent atomic rate equations for ground state and selected excited state populations of argon coupled with a probability-of-escape radiation transport scheme for both bound-bound and bound-free photons. Results are presented which illustrate basic changes in the X-ray spectra of an argon plasma as density is increased, in particular, relative intensities of resonance, satellite and intercombination lines as well as the free-bound continuum. In addition, temperature and density profiles from 1-D MHD calculations characterizing the peak emission from argon puffed-gas plasmas (≈10¹⁹ions/cm³) and argon-seeded laser-imploded microballons (?10²²ions/cm³) are post-processed using the model and the resulting spectra are discussed.     

Short wavelength X-ray emission generated by highly excited cluster beams

X-ray radiation is studied for large clusters consisting of 10⁷–10¹⁰ atoms and irradiated by an intense laser pulse with an intensity ranged from (10¹⁴ up to 10¹⁸ W/cm²). The model is developed for such a laser plasma that includes the radiative transitions and the processes of excitation and quenching of multicharged ions of this plasma by electron impact. Due to interaction of a radiating multicharged ion with a surrounding plasma, spectral lines of emission are broaden and neighboring spectral lines are overlapped. As a result, the spectrum of radiation of multicharged ions is transformed into a continuous spectral band. The model under consideration includes important plasma processes including dielectronic recombination, spontaneous radiation, excitation, quenching and ionization of multicharged ions by electron impact. On the basis of the model developed the X-ray spectrum and spectral power are evaluated. In the range of laser intensities under consideration a laser plasma formed contains multicharged ions with charges Z = 26?36 that corresponds to the 3d-electron shell in the xenon case.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of the laser erosion plasma of an AgGaS<Subscript>2</Subscript> polycrystalline target

Results are presented from experimental studies of the radiation emitted from a plasma produced in vacuum after irradiating a polycrystalline target by 1.06-μm laser radiation with an intensity of (3–5)×10⁸ W/cm². Plasma radiation from regions located at distances of 1 and 7 mm from the target is analyzed. It is shown that the main contribution to the plasma radiation in the 220–600 nm spectral range is made by transitions from the excited states of single-charged Ag⁺ and S⁺ ions. The atomic component of plasma radiation is represented by intense spectral lines corresponding to transitions from the Rydberg states of Ag and Ga atoms, whereas no resonance lines of these atoms are observed.     

Cross section and stellar reaction rates for the 42Ca(p, γ) reaction

The cross section for the ⁴²Ca(p, γ)⁴³Sc reaction has been measured over the lab energy range from 0.7 to 5.5 MeV using a positron spectrometer to measure the annihilation radiation from the decay of 3.9 h ⁴³Sc. Stellar reaction rates N_A〈σv〉 have been calculated from the experimental cross section curve for a series of three temperatures of interest for explosive oxygen and silicon burning in stars. The calculated rates are compared with the theoretical predictions of Woosley et al. and found to be in agreement within the experimental errors and the quoted validity of the theoretical calculation     

Experimental and theoretical studies on high-temperature thermal properties of fibrous insulation

In the present paper, an experimental apparatus has been developed to measure heat transfer through high-alumina fibrous insulation for thermal protection system. Effective thermal conductivities of the fibrous insulation were measured over a wide range of temperature (300-973 K) and pressure (10⁻²-10⁵ Pa) using the developed apparatus. The specific heat and the transmittance spectra in the wavelength range of 2.5-25 μm were also measured. The spectral extinction coefficients and Rosseland mean extinction coefficients were obtained from transmittance data at various temperatures to investigate the radiative heat transfer in fibrous insulation. A one-dimensional finite volume numerical model combined radiation and conduction heat transfer was developed to predict the behavior of the effective thermal conductivity of the fibrous insulation at various temperatures and pressures. The two-flux approximation was used to model the radiation heat transfer through the insulation. The experimentally measured specific heat and Rosseland mean extinction coefficients were used in the numerical heat transfer model to calculate the effective thermal conductivity. The average deviation between the numerical results for different values of albedo of scattering and the experimental results was investigated. The numerical results for ω=1 and experimental data were compared. It was found that the calculated values corresponded with the experimental values within an average of 13.5 percent. Numerical results were consistent with experimental results through the environmental conditions under examination.     

Characteristics of a high-frequency barrier discharge in mixtures of mercury diiodide vapor with gases

The spectral and electric characteristics of atmospheric-pressure high-frequency barrier discharge plasma based on mixtures of mercury diiodide with neon and admixtures of argon, xenon, and nitrogen are analyzed. A repetition rate of sinusoidal voltage pulses of about 100 kHz is used both to produce the gas discharge plasma and to excite the components of the working mixture. The radiation of the discharge in the range 200–900 nm is analyzed with a high resolution. It is found that, in the range 400–900 nm, the system of bands of excimer molecules HgI(B → X) emits 85% of the barrier discharge radiation. It is established that the radiation intensity of HgI(B → X) molecules is maximal in the mixture HgI₂/Xe/Ne = 0.6/10/90 kPa. In this mixture, UV radiation of molecules XeI(B → X) and XeI(B → A) is observed. The regular features of the spectral and electric characteristics of the gas discharge plasma are discussed. An atmospheric-pressure high-frequency barrier discharge in mixtures of mercury diiodide with gases is of interest for use in a selective (Δλ = 438–446 nm) excilamp with a cylindrical working aperture.     

Helium and argon line broadening in the ν2 band of CH4

The spectra of the gaseous mixtures CH₄-He and CH₄-Ar were obtained in the spectral region 1400-1750 cm⁻¹ with a resolution up to 0.003 cm⁻¹. Helium and argon pressure broadenings for the vibration-rotation lines of the ν₂ band of CH₄ have been estimated at room temperature for some lines in the P, Q, and R branches. These values were also calculated using the theoretical approach developed by Robert and Bonamy, extended to the case of tetrahedral molecules. The helium data have been found to be in a satisfactory agreement whereas a divergence of calculated and measured broadening coefficients has been evidenced in the case of argon. Simulations of the ν₂ band shapes of methane perturbed by helium have also been performed.     

Stark broadening of singly ionized strontium and calcium lines

Profiles of five calcium II and six strontium II lines have been measured in an argon plasma behind the reflected shock wave. The plasma was produced in an electromagnetically drivenT tube and calcium and strontium were present as an impurities. Electron densities were in the range 1.91–3.40·10¹⁷ cm^?3 and the electron temperatures between 10300 and 14200 °K. The half halfwidths of the measured profiles of some Ca II and Sr II multiplets show large discrepancies with theoretical predictions.     

Stark broadening and shift of fluorine I lines

Stark widths and shifts of some prominent F I spectral lines have been determined experimentally in aZ-pinch plasma in dichlorodifluoromethane on a shot-to-shot basis. The electron density was determined by the laser interferometry while the electron temperature was measured from relative intensities of Cl II lines. Temperatures were in the range 19100–36200 °K; electron densities varied from 0.71 to 1.43×10¹⁷cm^?3. Measured F I linewidths and shifts are compared with theoretical results computed by Griem and it is shown that a) experimental widths are systematically smaller and the degree of discrepancy increases with temperature, b) line shifts are also smaller than theoretical with exception of multiplets 5 and 6 with the shifts of opposite sign than theoretically predicted, c) experimental shift-to-width ratios decrease with the temperature but less than theoretically expected. Attention is drawn in general, to the systematic discrepancy between experimental results for neutral atom lines and the theory. The magnitude of this disagreement is related to the relative position of the energy levels of spectral line to the ionisation limit.