Spectroscopic observation of fast ions from laser-produced plasmas

Using a time-of-flight spectroscopic technique, measurements were made of the ion energy distributions of very fast ions and thermal ions produced when a 7–15-J 100-psec Nd : glass laser pulse (1.06 μm) strikes a (CH2)n slab target. Ion energies greater than 0.5 MeV have been observed for the first time with this technique of measurement. A simultaneous comparison is made between the signal of an ion charge collector placed 30 cm from the target and the intensity of the C VI 3434-Å ion line at 1 cm from the target.