Extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy and modeling of Cu on the SSPX Spheromak and laser plasma "Sparky"

Impurities play a critical role in magnetic fusion research. In large quantities, impurities can cool and dilute plasma creating problems for achieving ignition and burn; however in smaller amounts the impurities could provide valuable information about several plasma parameters through the use of spectroscopy. Many impurity ions radiate within the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range. Here, we report on spectra from the silver flat field spectrometer, which was implemented at the Sustained Spheromak Physics experiment (SSPX) to monitor ion impurity emissions. The chamber within the SSPX was made of Cu, which makes M-shell Cu a prominent impurity signature. The Spect3D spectral analysis code was utilized to identify spectral features in the range of 115-315 angstrom and to more fully understand the plasma conditions. A second set of experiments was carried out on the compact laser-plasma x-ray/EUV facility "Sparky" at UNR, with Cu flat targets used. The EUV spectra were recorded between 40-300 angstrom and compared with results from SSPX. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4727916]