Reconstruction and analysis of transient evolution images of laser-produced plasma plumes

We introduce a method for the analysis and simulation of transient images of laser-produced plasma (LPP) plumes. This method comprises three steps: (i) calculating the two-dimensional distribution of plasma parameters using a radiation hydrodynamics model, (ii) constructing radiation paths through ray tracing, and (iii) solving the radiation transport equation along these paths. In our simulations, we have meticulously considered factors that could influence the imaging results, including the quantum efficiency to different radiation wavelengths, the imaging lens' transmittance, the target surface's reflectivity, and the absorption, emission, and scattering quantum effect of the detector processes occurring in the plasma. We applied this method to analyze and simulate the transient images of aluminum plasma plumes in a background air environment at a pressure of 2000 Pa. The results demonstrate that our method not only produces simulated images that align with experimental results but also provides a reliable distribution of plasma state parameters and clearly identifies the ion species radiating in different bands. Given its capability in transient image reconstruction and its adaptability as a tool for spectral simulation and analysis of LPPs, we believe this method holds significant potential for spectral diagnostics in fields such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, extreme ultraviolet lithography sources, and high-energy-density physics, among others.