An electrodynamic coaxial spectrometer for multichannel plasma pulse analysis

A dynamical particle spectrometer is described, which allows complete and simultaneous analysis of ion energy spectra and charge distributions of transient ion pulses, e.g. from laser-produced plasmas. The system uses a combined time-of-flight arrangement with a coaxial capacitor whose potential is varied as 1/(time) 2 . Compared with dynamically operated parallel plate analysers the cylindrical symmetry offers substantial advantages both in principle and in practical application. A generator was developed which generates the appropriate 1/(time) 2 deflection potential. The performance of the whole system is tested using laser-produced C plasma pulses.