PRODUCTION OF A HIGH-DENSITY, LONG-SCALE-LENGTH IRON PLASMA USING A CAPILLARY DISCHARGE

The production of a long scale-length plasma of electron density 10(20 )-10(21) cm(-3), measuring 10 x 0.5 mm using a laser-heated capillary discharge is reported. X-ray spectroscopic measurements have been perf ormed which show that the plasma constituents can be varied by changin g the material that lines the exit slit of the device. The capillary t hus provides a useful source of large underdense plasmas created from solid materials suitable for laser-plasma interaction studies. Numeric al simulations consistent with spectroscopic studies suggest that temp eratures up to about 700 eV were achieved following irradiation of the se plasmas by high-power laser light.