Spectroscopic measurements of He2 in the afterglow of a dense Z‐pinch plasma

Abstract

Visible emission spectroscopy (330–650 nm) has been performed radially and axially on a Z‐pinch plasma. During the peak compression, continuum and He ii line emission (468.6 nm) predominated. We report the first observation of He2 in the post‐pinch phase of a dense helium Z‐pinch discharge. Axial measurements of this afterglow plasma also revealed pronounced absorption bands which cannot be identified with He2, He i, He ii, or impurities.