Temperature and density spectroscopic measurements in different laser-generated plasmas

A pulsed Nd:Yag laser, at intensities of the order of 10¹⁰ W/cm², is employed to irradiate different thick metallic targets (Ti, Fe, Ag, and Ni) placed in vacuum. The obtained non-equilibrium plasmas are investigated with various analytical techniques. An electrostatic ion energy analyzer and different ion collectors are employed to monitor in situ the ions ejected from the plasma and to determine the core plasma temperature, the ion energy distributions and the ion angular emission. An optical spectrometer is employed to analyze the plasma corona emitted light vs. wavelength and to identify the emitted characteristic lines. The optical spectroscopy permitted to evaluate the electron temperatures and densities. Results show strong temperature and density gradients occurring in the laser-generated plasma plume.