Skip to main content
Log in

Time-resolved spectroscopic observations of a high-temperature, high-density plasma in a vacuum spark

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Physik A Atoms and Nuclei

Abstract

The discharge parameters of a low-inductance, high-current vacuum spark were optimized to produce a small “point” plasma with temperatures of 35 keV and densities higher than 1020cm−3. Using two Bragg-crystal spectrometers the time resolved x-ray emission was studied. Lines from helium-like and hyrogen-like ions of the elements titanium, iron, copper, and molybdenum were observed and compared with theoretical predictions. Satellite lines to the Lyman-α transition up to molybdenum are identified as radiative transitions from autoionizing levels of the doubly excited helium-like ionization stages.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. This method has been used for example to observe the decay of metastable states of helium-like argon; see Schmieder, R.W., Marrus, R.: Phys. Rev. Letters25, 1245 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  2. For a review on the plasma focus see Mather, J. W., in: Methods in Experimental Physics, Vol. 9, Part B, ed. R. Lovberg and H.R. Griem. New York: Academic Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lie, T.N., Elton, R.C.: Phys. Rev. A3, 865 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fraenkel, B.S., Schwob, J.L.: Phys. Letters40A, 81, 83 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wood, R.W.: Phys. Rev. V, 1 (1897)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Edlén, B.: Physica13, 545 (1947) and other references cited there

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tanberg, R.: Phys. Rev.35, 1080 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kobel, E.: Phys. Rev.36, 1636 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Easton, E.C.,et al.: Electrical Engineering53, 1454 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Elton, R.C.: Report 6738, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington D.C., 1968

    Google Scholar 

  11. Turechek, J.: Ph.D. thesis, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chin-Fatt, C.A., Griem, H.R.: Phys. Rev. Letters25, 1644 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Chin-Fatt, C.A.: Technical Report 72–014, University of Maryland 1971

  14. Gollwitzer, D.: Report Jü1-972-PP, KFA-Jülich, Germany (1973)

  15. Gabriel, A.H., Jordan, C.: In: Case Studies in Atomic Collision Physics, Vol. 2, chapter 4, ed. McDaniel and McDowell Amsterdam: North Holland 1972

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gabriel, A.H.: Monthly Not. Roy. Astr. Soc.160, 99 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  17. House, L.L.: Astrophys. J. Suppl.18, 21 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bearden, J.A.: Rev. of Mod. Phys.37, 78 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Schörling, P.O.: Ark. Fysik19, 47 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bethe, H.A., Salpeter, E.E.: Quantum Mechanics of One- and Two-Electron Atoms. New York: Academic Press 1957

    Google Scholar 

  21. Doyle, H.T.: In: Advances in Atomic and Molecular Physics. Vol. 5, ed D. R. Bates and I. Estermann. New York: Academic Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ermolaev, A.M., Jones, M., Phillips, K.J.H.: Astrophys. Letters12, 53 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ermolaev, A.M.: Phys. Rev. A8, 1651 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Vainshtein, L.A., Safranova, U.: Soviet Astron.-AJ15, 175 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Garcia, J.D., Mack, J.E.: J. Opt. Soc. Am.55, 654 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Goldsmith, S.: J. Phys. B2, 1075 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Feldmann, U., Cohen, L.: Astrophys. J.158, L 169 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Peacock, N.J., Speer, R.J., Hobby, M.G.: J. Phys. B2, 798 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Feldman, U., Doschek, G.A., Nagel, D.J., Cowan, R.D., Whitlock, R.R.: Astrophys. J. (To be published)

  30. Peacock, N.J., Hobby, M.G., Galanti, M.: J. Phys. B6, L298 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Meekins, J.F., Doscheck, G.A., Friedmann, H., Chubb, T.A., Kreplin, R.W.: Solar Physics13, 198 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Walker, A.B.C., Jr., Rugge, H.R.: Astrophys. J.164, 181 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Gabriel, A.H., Jordan, C.: Nature221, 947 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Aashamar, Kjell: Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Oslo, Norway. Private communication

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Work supported by the US Atomic Energy Commission.

The authors would like to express their appreciation to H. R. Griem for valuable discussions, and to K. Aashamar for communicating theoretical wavelengths for the (1s2p)3 P-(2p 2)3 P transitions in helium-like ions in advance of publication.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Turechek, J.J., Kunze, H.J. Time-resolved spectroscopic observations of a high-temperature, high-density plasma in a vacuum spark. Z Physik A 273, 111–121 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435830

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435830

Keywords

Navigation