Investigation of Al plasmas from thin foils irradiated by high-intensity extreme ultraviolet

Abstract

Dynamics and spectral transmission of Al plasma produced by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiation of 0.75-μm thick Al foil is investigated. The EUV radiation with the peak power density in the range of 0.19–0.54 TW/cm2 is provided by Z-pinch formed by W multiwire array implosion in the Angara-5-1 facility. Geometry of the experiment ensures that there are no plasma fluxes from the pinch toward the Al foil and plasma. The same EUV source is used as a back illuminator for obtaining the absorption spectrum of Al plasma in the wavelength range of 5–24 nm. It comprises absorption lines of ions Al4+, Al5+, Al6+, Al7+. Analysis of relative intensities of the lines shows that those ions are formed in dense Al plasma with a temperature of ∼20 eV. Dynamics of Al plasma has been investigated with transverse laser probing. We have also performed radiation-gas-dynamics simulations of plasma dynamics affected by external radiation, which includes self-consistent radiation transport in a plasma shell. The simulations show good agreement with an experimental absorption spectrum and with experimental data concerning plasma dynamics, as well as with the analysis of line absorption spectrum. This confirms the correctness of the physical model underlying these simulations.