Micropinch discharge plasma as a heavy element ion source

Appearance of Fe+25 charge ions is detected in micropinch plasma for discharge in iron plasma. Micropinch discharge can be realized in a device of low-inductive vacuum spark type. Investigation into energy and charge composition of clusters, escaping from plasma of low-inductive vacuum spark in the axial direction by current, is undertaken. The shape of energy spectrum, obtained using the time-of-flight methods, testifies to the presence of three ion groups in the ion emission, their distribution maxima lying within the particle energy region of ∼ 1, 10 and 50 keV. 4 refs., 2 figs