Analysing brilliance spectra of a laser-induced carbon plasma

Abstract

Brilliance spectra of a carbon plasma generated by subpicosecond high intensity laser pulses are analysed (Wilhein et al 1998 J. Opt. Soc. Am. 15 1235). The plasma parameters such as electron density and temperature are determined using a plasma slab model. Synthetic carbon He-α and He-β line profiles are calculated for the inferred plasma parameters by using thermodynamic Green's function, based on a microscopic quantum statistical approach assuming local thermal equilibrium. Self-absorption is taken into account considering one-dimensional radiation transport equation. The comparison between the measured spectrum and our calculated synthetic profile is good for He-α line (C V 1s2–1s2p), while discrepancies are found in the case of He-β line (C V 1s2–1s3p).