Laboratory astrophysics survey of key X-ray diagnostic lines using a microcalorimeter on an electron beam ion trap

Cosmic plasma conditions created in an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) make i t possible to simulate the dependencies of key diagnostic X-ray lines on de nsity, temperature, and excitation conditions that exist in astrophysical s ources. We used a microcalorimeter for such laboratory astrophysics studies because it has a resolving power approximate to 1000, quantum efficiency a pproaching 100%, and a bandwidth that spans the X-ray energies from 0.2 keV to 10 keV. Our microcalorimeter, coupled with an X-ray optic to increase t he effective solid angle, provides a significant new capability for laborat ory astrophysics measurements. Broadband spectra obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology EBIT with an energy resolution appro aching that of a Bragg crystal spectrometer are presented for nitrogen, oxy gen, neon, argon, and krypton in various stages of ionization. We have comp ared the measured line intensities to theoretical predictions for an EBIT p lasma.