Population inversion due to charge-exchange interaction of plasma jets from plasma focus with residual gas

Time-integrated and time-resolved studies of pulsed ion beams from fast micro-capillary discharges

“…Such ions can be obtained from an axial outflow of hot plasma or some other acceleration mechanisms. Similar effects are also observed in laser produced plasmas and they are also known from investigations of plasma jets, as produced within small plasma-focus (PF) devices [4].…”

KeV Ion Beam Generation from Z-Pinches Produced in Plasma Focus like Geometry

“…If the produced ions are slower than the zippering plasma front, they are caught by the moving plasma, otherwise they move free and be used for the physical surface processes mentioned above. It has been shown in [13] that for the investigated PF it is possible in the later phase of zippering when it has already slowed down. The beam velocity have been measured by exposing a small 10×10 mm copper plate to the ion beam.…”

“…As the charge exchange process is an efficient mechanism for highly ionized ions in the residual gas [15], high level transition are seen with rather high intensity. In this case the resonance 2−4 and 2−5 transition of hydrogen like nitrogen were abnormally high and population inversion of a gain length product G · l = 2 has been deduced [13] using the beam dimensions determined above and an ion density of 10 18 cm −3 . If a strong charge exchange process is present also a strong enhancement of higher resonance line transition has been observed also.…”

“…The beam velocity have been measured by exposing a small 10×10 mm copper plate to the ion beam. From the penetration depth of 10 nm inside the copper -measured with the help of XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) technique [14] -one also found a speed velocity of (1 − 2) × 10 7 cm/s of N vii ions [13]. The beam diameter was determined using a soft boron nitride target in which the beam could easily penetrate.…”

Inverse Populations of Multicharged Ion Levels in a Z-Pinch Plasma as a Result of Interaction of Plasma Beams with Neutral or Low-Ionized Gas Targets

“…In this scheme, an inversion is created by a selective quasi-resonance population of excited ion levels due to interaction of a multi-charged-ion beam with cold gaseous or low-charged plasma targets. Experimental results have been discussed for Z-pinches [5], capillary discharges [6], and plasma foci [7]. Experimental results have been discussed for Z-pinches [5], capillary discharges [6], and plasma foci [7].…”