Extended analysis of the X-ray spectra of laser-irradiated elements in the sequence from tantalum to lead

Resonance lines of nickel-like highly-charged ions are identified in the spectra of seven elements (Ta, W, Re, Pt, Au, Hg and Pb) excited by laser irradiation. They pertain mainly to transitions 3d-nf (n = 5 through 9), 3p-nd (n = 4 through 6) and 3s-np (n = 4, 5). Unresolved transition arrays of lower charge ions isoelectronic with copper, zinc, gallium and germanium, are also interpreted, as well as a few cobalt-like transitions. The relativistic parametric potential method and the unresolved transition array formalism support this analysis.