Rydberg transitions in the spectra of near-neon-like Cu and Zn ions in different laser-produced plasmas: observations and modeling

We present observations of high-n transitions in the spectra of neon-like Cu19+ and Zn20+ ions observed in a variety of laser-produced plasmas (LPPs). The spectra are recorded with spectral resolution lambda/Deltalambda = 30008000 from three different laser sources: a 15 ns-pulse length Nd:glass, a ps-pulse length Nd:glass, a 12 ns-pulse length XeCl laser. These spectral. observations are used to classify the transitions in the 2p-nd and 2s-np Rydberg series of the Ne-like copper and zinc ions, and to derive their first and second ionization energies. The plasma X-ray emission is simulated with a steady-state collisional-radiative model that includes the effect of self-absorption on line intensities, and the effect of hot-electron populations on the ionization balance. These spectra, along with those in our other recent work, provide a comprehensive set of data that can be used to test the accuracy of atomic-structure calculations, and to demonstrate the importance of opacity and hot electron effects on high-n transitions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.