Emission spectroscopy in the VUV and visible from highly charged ions in an electron beam ion trap

This thesis describes a series of experiments performed in the visible and VUV to measure the wavelengths of transitions from a variety of highly charged ions. These ions were produced in the Oxford electron beam ion trap (EBIT). A careful study of the systematics of the EBIT is presented, which clearly demonstrates its potential as a good source for precision spectroscopy. Magnetic dipole transitions within the fine-structure levels of Be-like, B-like, O-like, Ti-like and V-like ions are studied. The transitions occur in the visible region and were observed using a one metre Czerny-Turner spectrometer coupled to a CCD detector. An external source was used for calibration. The precision wavelength results have an order of magnitude greater precision that any previous experimental work on these transitions, and with a best accuracy at the 3 ppm level, they are the most precise measurements to date performed on an EBIT. The ease of charge state identification using an EBIT is demonstrated and a conclusion is drawn that in previous work, the Ar14+ 2s2p 3P1 - 3P2 transition was misidentified. The 1s2s 3S1 - 1s2P 3P2 transition that has been studied in helium-like neon is particularly sensitive to relativistic and quantum electrodynamic effects. Its wavelength lies in the VUV and was observed by a one metre normal incidence grating spectrometer using photographic detection. An external source was used to calibrate the film. The measurement, which is the first that has been obtained in this region of the spectrum using an EBIT, is in good agreement with the latest theoretical calculations and with earlier experimental values. Finally, the potential to extend the measurements to helium-like systems with a higher nuclear charge is discussed. By using similar techniques, a precision at the parts per million level might be possible on these ions in an EBIT. This would provide a more sensitive test of higher order radiative corrections. (author)