Line spectroscopy with spatial resolution of laser-plasma X-ray emission

High dynamic range, space-resolved X-ray spectra of an aluminum laser-plasm a in the 5.5-8 Angstrom range were obtained using a TIAP crystal and a cool ed CCD camera as a detector. This technique was used to investigate the emi ssion region in the longitudinal direction over a distance of approximately 350 mum from the solid target surface. These data show that the electron d ensity profile varies by two orders of magnitude with the temperature rangi ng from about 180 eV in the overdense region to about 650 eV in the underde nse region. Accordingly, different equilibria take place across the explore d region which can be identified with this experimental technique. Derailed studies on highly ionized atomic species in different plasma conditions ca n therefore be performed simultaneously under controlled conditions.