Spectral simulation of laser ablated magnesium plasmas

Abstract

We describe a collisional-radiative equilibrium model forpredicting the optical emission spectrum of low-temperature magnesium plasmas,specifically those created by laser ablation. In the model, levels arepopulated by a balance of collisional and radiative rates. We include Starkwidths of lines and trapping of radiation in the calculations. By use of thismodel we discuss various issues of importance in spectral analysis of laserablated plasma plumes, such as the partial local thermodynamic equilibriumapproximation, line trapping and time dependence.