Properties of iodine laser-produced stream of multiply charged heavy ions of different elements

Properties of laser produced stream of ions of high- and medium-Z elements were analyzed in the far expansion zone using time-of-flight method and Tho mson parabola spectrograph in experiments performed with the iodine laser s ystem PERUN at IP ASCR, Prague (lambda=1.315 mu m, E(L)similar to 45 J, tau (L)similar to 300-700 mu s). Ta, Au, and Pb, as well as Co, Sn, and Ag were mainly used as targets onto which a laser power density up to 1x10(15) W c m(-2) was delivered. Attention is paid to the evolution and comparison of d ifferent produced ion groups, and to the number, charge state, energy, and angular distribution of emitted ions. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physic s. [S0034-6748(00)53202-X].