Laser-produced plasma stigmatic observations in the EUV by means of a CCD detector with enhanced VUV sensitivity

The observations of the emission from laser-produced plasmas of carbon, aluminum and tungsten have been performed by means of a vacuum normal incidence stigmatic spectrograph. The detector used is a Peltier-cooled CCD, optimized for the vacuum ultraviolet spectral range. The results presented include the spectrum of the plasmas, in the range from 380 to 800 angstrom, the spectral and spatial profiles along the expanding plasmas and the absolute measurements of the plasma brightness. The measurements show an outstanding capability of this type of detector, in terms of sensitivity, resolution and dynamic range, with respect to traditional devices such as photographic film, intensified linear arrays, and CCD.