A quantitative study of the forbidden and intercombination transitions arising from the Li-like Al autoionizing levels

Abstract

This work presents results from detailed quantitative description of the level population kinetics responsible for the relatively high line-intensity of the forbidden and intercombination transitions arising from autoionization states. The goal is to investigate the influence of different atomic processes on the emission spectrum of the laser-produced aluminum plasma obtained at the nhelix-laser test bed facility at GSI (PRA 63, 032716). In the experiment a Nd-glass YAG laser beam having 50 J pulse energy, 15 ns full width half maximum duration and 1.064 μm wavelength is focused on a massive Al target. To simulate the experimental reported spectrum, the population kinetics is investigated based on a collisional radiative model. The theoretical spectroscopic investigation reported here indicates the existence of anomalous high intensity X-ray intercombination and two-electron transitions arising from autoionizing states in Li-like Al ion. Detailed atomic structure calculation and kinetics modeling is performed to find out the individual states involved, and the population density distribution over them. Presented results are useful for femtosecond-laser produced plasma experiments and diagnostics.