Spectroscopic studies of an argon plasma produced in a relativistic electron beam gas puff <i>Z</i> pinch

Abstract

The spectra of argon ions emitted from a plasma created by discharging a 3-TW relativistic electron beam generator through an argon gas column are reported. New lines have been classified for 2s 2pn–2pn+1 transition arrays in Ar XI–XV and energy levels have been derived for lithiumlike argon XVI. The effects of mass motion Doppler shifts on the spectra have been measured and systematic shifts of transition energies with charge state are observed in the data.