Study of optical emission from laser-produced plasma expanding across an external magnetic field

Abstract

The laser-induced plasma obtained from the liquid target and expanding across a steady magnetic field has been studied using atomic emission spectroscopy. The line emission from the plasma was enhanced (>1.5 times) in the presence of a magnetic field, whereas background emission decreases. Enhancement in line intensity was found to be mainly a function of plasma beta (β). An increased rate of three-body recombination in plasma particles due to the cooling of the plasma during its expansion and an increase in effective plasma density as a result of its confinement seems to be the reason behind this enhancement.