X-ray spectrum emitted by a laser-produced cerium plasma in the 7.5 to 12 angstrom wavelength range

A highly stripped cerium (Z = 58) plasma is produced by irradiating a solid cerium target with an intense short laser pulse. The X-ray spectrum emitte d from the plasma is recorded in the 7.5-12 Angstrom ,wavelength range usin g a flat RAP crystal spectrometer. Ab-initio calculations using the RELAC r elativistic computer code, as well as isoelectronic trends deduced from pre vious works, together with spectra obtained under different laser beam focu sing conditions, are all employed for the identification of the spectral li nes and features emitted by various ions from Fe-like Ce32+ to As-like Ce25 +. The technique of comparing spectra obtained using different laser intens ities is also employed to confirm or to resolve some ambiguous identificati ons of spectral features in the spectrum of a laser-produced lanthanum plas ma studied in a previous work.