Spectroscopic Measurements on Laser-Produced LiH Plasmas

Spectroscopic measurements in the extreme uv and visible have been carried out on a plasma produced by giant-laser impact on small LiH pellets suspended in vacuum. The experimental results indicate a fast-expanding periphery containing Li, H, and some oxygen impurities, and a plasma core with a smaller mean expansion velocity. The latter gives rise to a sequence of emission lines due to ions of successively decreasing charge. This plasma core is completely recombined after about 100 to 150 nsec.