Investigation of a laser-produced cerium plasma by the analysis of the high-resolution x-ray spectrum - art. no. 052508

A highly stripped cerium (Z = 58) plasma is produced by irradiating a solid cerium target with a short pulse laser. The x-ray spectrum emitted from th e plasma is recorded in the limited wavelength range 9.0-9.3 Angstrom using a high-resolution curved mica crystal spectrometer. The high-resolution sp ectrum, which corresponds to the 3d-5f transitions in Ni-, Cu-, and Zn-like cerium ions, is analyzed by means of a detailed collisional-radiative mode l that includes autoionization and dielectronic capture processes. The inte nsity ratio of the Ni-like 3d-5f resonant line at 9.045 Angstrom to the fea tures emitted from satellite transitions of Cu-like ions provides an estima te for the mean electron temperature and density of 230 eV and 10(22) cm(-3 ), respectively. The deduced mean electron temperature is higher than that obtained in a similar experiment on laser-produced barium plasma. The origi n of the higher mean electron temperature deduced in the present experiment is explained by the different type of transition employed for the temperat ure diagnostics, which might reflect a different phase of the plasma evolut ion.