Observation of density-enhanced dielectronic satellite spectra produced during subpicosecond laser-matter interactions

An experimental verification of the theoretically predicted density enhancement of the dielectronic satellite spectra emitted by multiply charged lithiumlike ions in high-density plasmas is reported. These plasmas were created by the interaction of solid ${\mathrm{MgF}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ targets with high-intensity, subpicosecond, ultraviolet laser radiation. Comparisons between the observed and theoretically predicted values for the intensity ratios between two different pairs of dielectronic satellite lines have enabled determinations of electron densities of the order of ${10}^{23}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}3}$ to be made in these high-density laser-produced plasmas.