X-RAY SPECTRAL INVESTIGATIONS OF A HIGH IRRADIANCE PICOSECOND LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA

A 1.5 picosecond laser pulse with an intensity of more than 10(18) W/c m(2) was used to heat solid state magnesium targets. The unique charac teristics of this plasma source together with a high resolution record ing system (lambda/Delta lambda = 10(4)) allowed us to study multichar ged ions with L- and M-shell dielectronic satellite structures in the wavelength range of 9.2-9.5 Angstrom. Ten spectral lines determined by 1s2p4l-1s(2)4l and 1s2p3l-1s(2)3l transitions in Mg X and of 43 spect ral lines of Mg IX were identified and measured. Parameters of the pla sma in the process of its evolution were deduced.