Stark broadening of high quantum number Δn=1 transitions of carbon V and VI in a laser-produced plasma

Abstract

Stark broadened wavelength profiles of the hydrogen-like lines carbon VI (6-7) 3434, (7-8) 5290 AA and the quasi hydrogen-like lines carbon V (5-6) 2982, (6-7) 4945 AA have been recorded, with time resolution, in the high density plasma produced by the laser-irradiation of a polyethylene foil in vacuum. Stark theory of relevance to these new lines is reviewed. Half-widths are calculated for values of electron and ion density deduced from line intensities, and are compared with experiment. It is shown that the broadening is predominantly ion quasi-static, with C⁶⁺ and C⁵⁺ as the principal perturbing ions. The electron impact contribution to the broadening would be at least as great as the ion contribution if it were not for correlations in the perturbations of the upper and lower states. There is a factor of two difference between theory and experiment, which is about the maximum which can be explained in terms of errors in the experiment and in the formulation of the Stark theory.