Radiative Collapse in Vacuum Spark Plasmas of Intermediate and High Z Elements

Abstract

The soft X‐ray emission of intermediate and high Z elements from a low inductance vacuum spark, has been analyzed by space‐resolved spectroscopy and modeling of the emission. In the case of intermediate Z elements, the observed spatial extent and the estimated plasma parameters of the regions emitting L‐shell ions transitions are consistent with the predictions of the radiative collapse model of the spark. For high Z elements, the estimated characteristics of the plasma emitting radiation of the M‐shell ions seem to indicate that in this case too a radiative collapse may take place, triggered by the intense line emission of Ni‐like ions.