Space charge effects in electrostatic ion analysers for laser produced plasma detection

Ion energy spectra of Ta + , Ta 2+ and Ta 3+ ions from laser produced plasma have been measured with 127 degrees electrostatic analyser. The results are contrasted with calculations using the ribbon-shaped beam formula of the space-charge-limited current which can pass through two slit apertures. The spectra show that in the low energy range the transmission of the system is critically influenced by space charge effects, which can be described relatively well, however, by the theory.