Diagnostics of Langmuir oscillations in a superdense plasma

The level and the angular distribution of Langmuir oscillations in a dense plasma produced on the Phoenix plasma radiation source (PRS) were measured. Line profiles of several lines in the Lyman series of Al XIII were measured using crystal spectrometers. A spectral line shape model was used, which attempted to take into account all significant broadening mechanisms. The parameters of the plasma and the Langmuir oscillations were found by generating profiles using the model and comparing these profiles to the experimental spectra. The strength of the Langmuir oscillations was found to be E/sub 0//spl ap/1-9 GV/cm, indicative of a strong Langmuir turbulence. The polarization analysis of the profiles of the Al XIII Lyman /spl gamma/ line has shown that the Langmuir oscillations develop anisotropically, primarily in the direction of the plasma current.