Density Diagnostics of an Argon Plasma by Heavy Ion Beams and Spectroscopy

Abstract

Experiments have been performed to investigate charge state and energy loss of 5.9-MeV/u uranium ions in a partially ionized dense argon plasma with 1017≤ne≤ 1019cm−3and 1 ≤Te≤ 10 eV. The charge state of the ions was found to be equal to the equilibrium charge state in cold gas. The energy loss offered a useful tool for plasma density diagnostics. Spectroscopic measurements using the electron collision broadening of ArII- and ArIII-lines in the visible and UV spectral region confirm this plasma density data.