Simulations of a Maxwellian plasma using an electron beam ion trap

Using the Lawrence-Livermore electron beam ion trap (LLNL-EBIT), we produce a quasi-Maxwellian plasma by sweeping the energy of the nearly monoenerget ic beam so the time spent an any energy is proportional to the Maxwell-Bolt zmann probability at that energy. To verify the accuracy of the quasi-Maxwe llian, we measure line emission due to dielectronic recombination (DR) and electron impact excitation (EIE) of Mg10+ and Ne8+, for a range of simulate d temperatures. The ratio of DR to EIE lines in heliumlike ions is a well u nderstood temperature diagnostic. The spectroscopically inferred temperatur es are in excellent agreement with the simulated temperatures.