Time resolved EUV spectra from Z{\-}pinching capillary discharge plasma

We developed [1] symmetrically charged driver to obtain high voltage, high current Z-pinching capillary discharge. Plasma is created by up to 70~kA, 29~ns rise{\-}time current pulse passing through a 5~mm inner diameter, 224~mm long capillary filled with gas to initial pressure in the range of 1~kPa. Due to the low inductance design of the driver, the pinch is observable directly from the measured current curve. Time-integrated and time-resolved spectra of discharge plasma radiation are recorded together with the capillary current and analyzed. The most encouraging spectra were captured in the wavelength range 8.3 $\div$ 14 nm. This spectral region contains nitrogen Balmer series lines including potentially lasing NVII~2~--~3 transition. Spectral lines are identified in the NIST database using the FLY kinetic code. The line of 13.38~nm wavelength, transition NVII~2~--~3, was observed in gated, and also in time-integrated spectra for currents \textgreater 60~kA. \\[4pt] [1] Nevrkla, M., Jancarek, A., Nawaz, F.: Discharge driver for 13.4 nm XUV laser, 2013 19th IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2013; San Francisco, CA; United States; 16 June 2013~through~21 June 2013; Code~101034