Spectroscopy of Highly Charged Ions for Astrophysical and Fundamental Physics Applications

Plasma conditions seen in astrophysical plasmas such as in the solar corona can be reproduced and probed in a laboratory environment with an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). The recent launch of telescopes sensitive in the infra-red (IR) region highlights the need for spectral data in this region to improve models. In an effort to extend the spectroscopic measurements with an EBIT to the near-IR region, we perform test measurements at the EBIT facility at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) | Harvard & Smithsonian. The test setup consisted of a photomultiplier tube (PMT), focusing lenses, and a narrow band filter. Well-known emission from Ar ions in the visible region was measured to better understand the challenges created by the hot electron gun and warm surfaces within the EBIT, and to explore the timing capabilities and photon detection efficiency of the PMT. Here, we present the experimental efforts and preliminary results which are the first step in our plans to measure the atomic lifetimes.