L-shell absorption spectrum of an open-M-shell germanium plasma: Comparison of experimental data with a detailed configuration-accounting calculation

Systematic Study of L-Shell Opacity at Stellar Interior Temperatures

The first systematic study of opacity dependence on atomic number at stellar interior temperatures is used to evaluate discrepancies between measured and modeled iron opacity [J. E. Bailey et al., Nature (London) 517, 56 (2015)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/nature14048]. High-temperature (>180  eV) chromium and nickel opacities are measured with ±6%-10% uncertainty, using the same methods employed in the previous iron experiments. The 10%-20% experiment reproducibility demonstrates experiment reliability. The overall model-data disagreements are smaller than for iron. However, the systematic study reveals shortcomings in models for density effects, excited states, and open L-shell configurations. The 30%-45% underestimate in the modeled quasicontinuum opacity at short wavelengths was observed only from iron and only at temperature above 180 eV. Thus, either opacity theories are missing physics that has nonmonotonic dependence on the number of bound electrons or there is an experimental flaw unique to the iron measurement at temperatures above 180 eV.

Spectral measurements of asymmetrically irradiated capsule backlighters

Capsule backlighters provide a quasi-continuum x-ray spectrum over a wide range of photon energies [J. F. Hansen et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, 013504 (2008)]. Ideally one irradiates the capsule backlighter symmetrically, however, in complex experimental geometries, this is not always possible. In recent experiments we irradiated capsule backlighters asymmetrically and measured the x-ray spectrum from multiple directions. We will present time-integrated spectra over the photon energy range of 2-13 keV and time-resolved spectra over the photon energy range of 2-3 keV. We will compare the spectra from different lines of sight to determine if the laser asymmetry results in an angular dependence in the x-ray emission.

Calibrated simulations of Z opacity experiments that reproduce the experimentally measured plasma conditions

Recently, frequency-resolved iron opacity measurements at electron temperatures of 170-200 eV and electron densities of (0.7-4.0)×10(22)cm(-3) revealed a 30-400% disagreement with the calculated opacities [J. E. Bailey et al., Nature (London) 517, 56 (2015)]. The discrepancies have a high impact on astrophysics, atomic physics, and high-energy density physics, and it is important to verify our understanding of the experimental platform with simulations. Reliable simulations are challenging because the temporal and spatial evolution of the source radiation and of the sample plasma are both complex and incompletely diagnosed. In this article, we describe simulations that reproduce the measured temperature and density in recent iron opacity experiments performed at the Sandia National Laboratories Z facility. The time-dependent spectral irradiance at the sample is estimated using the measured time- and space-dependent source radiation distribution, in situ source-to-sample distance measurements, and a three-dimensional (3D) view-factor code. The inferred spectral irradiance is used to drive 1D sample radiation hydrodynamics simulations. The images recorded by slit-imaged space-resolved spectrometers are modeled by solving radiation transport of the source radiation through the sample. We find that the same drive radiation time history successfully reproduces the measured plasma conditions for eight different opacity experiments. These results provide a quantitative physical explanation for the observed dependence of both temperature and density on the sample configuration. Simulated spectral images for the experiments without the FeMg sample show quantitative agreement with the measured spectral images. The agreement in spectral profile, spatial profile, and brightness provides further confidence in our understanding of the backlight-radiation time history and image formation. These simulations bridge the static-uniform picture of the data interpretation and the dynamic-gradient reality of the experiments, and they will allow us to quantitatively assess the impact of effects neglected in the data interpretation.

Opacity of iron, nickel, and copper plasmas in the x-ray wavelength range: theoretical interpretation of 2p-3d absorption spectra

This paper deals with theoretical studies on the 2p-3d absorption in iron, nickel, and copper plasmas related to LULI2000 (Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, 2000J facility) measurements in which target temperatures were of the order of 20 eV and plasma densities were in the range 0.004-0.01 g/cm(3). The radiatively heated targets were close to local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). The structure of 2p-3d transitions has been studied with the help of the statistical superconfiguration opacity code SCO and with the fine-structure atomic physics codes HULLAC and FAC. A new mixed version of the sco code allowing one to treat part of the configurations by detailed calculation based on the Cowan's code RCG has been also used in these comparisons. Special attention was paid to comparisons between theory and experiment concerning the term features which cannot be reproduced by SCO. The differences in the spin-orbit splitting and the statistical (thermal) broadening of the 2p-3d transitions have been investigated as a function of the atomic number Z. It appears that at the conditions of the experiment the role of the term and configuration broadening was different in the three analyzed elements, this broadening being sensitive to the atomic number. Some effects of the temperature gradients and possible non-LTE effects have been studied with the help of the radiative-collisional code SCRIC. The sensitivity of the 2p-3d structures with respect to temperature and density in medium-Z plasmas may be helpful for diagnostics of LTE plasmas especially in future experiments on the Δn=0 absorption in medium-Z plasmas for astrophysical applications.

Diagnosis of x-ray heated Mg/Fe opacity research plasmas

Understanding stellar interiors, inertial confinement fusion, and Z pinches depends on opacity models for mid-Z plasmas in the 100-300 eV temperature range. These models are complex and experimental validation is crucial. In this paper we describe the diagnosis of the first experiments to measure iron plasma opacity at a temperature high enough to produce the charge states and electron configurations that exist in the solar interior. The dynamic Hohlraum x-ray source at Sandia National Laboratories' Z facility was used to both heat and backlight Mg/Fe CH tamped foils. The backlighter equivalent brightness temperature was estimated to be T(r) approximately 314 eV+/-8% using time-resolved x-ray power and imaging diagnostics. This high brightness is significant because it overwhelms the sample self-emission. The sample transmission in the 7-15.5 A range was measured using two convex potassium acid phthalate crystal spectrometers that view the backlighter through the sample. The average spectral resolution over this range was estimated to be lambda/deltalambda approximately 700 by comparing theoretical crystal resolution calculations with measurements at 7.126, 8.340, and 12.254 A. The electron density was determined to be n(e)=6.9+/-1.7 x 10(21) cm(-3) using the Stark-broadened Mg Hebeta, Hegamma, and Hedelta lines. The temperature inferred from the H-like to He-like Mg line ratios was T(e)=156+/-6 eV. Comparisons with three different spectral synthesis models all have normalized chi(2) that is close to unity, indicating quantitative consistency in the inferred plasma conditions. This supports the reliability of the results and implies the experiments are suitable for testing iron opacity models.

Iron-plasma transmission measurements at temperatures above 150 eV

Measurements of iron-plasma transmission at 156+/-6 eV electron temperature and 6.9+/-1.7 x 10(21) cm(-3) electron density are reported over the 800-1800 eV photon energy range. The temperature is more than twice that in prior experiments, permitting the first direct experimental tests of absorption features critical for understanding solar interior radiation transport. Detailed line-by-line opacity models are in excellent agreement with the data.

Opacity measurements of a hot iron plasma using an x-ray laser

The temporal evolution of the opacity of an iron plasma at high temperature (30-350 eV) and high density (0.001-0.2 g cm-3) has been measured using a nickel-like silver x-ray laser at 13.9 nm. The hot dense iron plasma was created in a thin (50 nm) iron layer buried 80 nm below the surface in a plastic target that was heated using a separate 80 ps pulse of 6-9 J, focused to a 100 microm diameter spot. The experimental opacities are compared with opacities evaluated from plasma conditions predicted using a fluid and atomic physics code.

Radiative opacities and configuration interaction effects of hot iron plasma using a detailed term accounting model

We have calculated the radiative opacities of iron plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium using a detailed term accounting model. The extensive atomic data are obtained by multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) method, with Breit-Pauli relativistic corrections. Extensive configuration interaction (CI) has been included based on LS coupling to obtain energy levels and the bound-bound transition cross sections. A detailed configuration accounting model is applied to evaluate the bound-free absorption cross sections. We simulate two experimental transmission spectra [G. Winhart et al., Phys. Rev. E 53, R1332 (1996); P. T. Springer et al., J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 58, 927 (1997)] to verify our calculation model, one is at a temperature of 22 eV and a density of 10(-2) g/cm(3) and the other is at a temperature of 20 eV and a lower density of 10(-4) g/cm(3). It is shown that the strong CI can effectively change the oscillator strengths in contrast to the single configuration HF method. For both of the two simulated transmission spectra good agreement is obtained between the present MCHF results and the experimental data. Spectrally resolved opacities and Planck and Rosseland mean opacities are also calculated. For the isothermal sequence of T=20 eV, when the density decreases from 10(-2) to 10(-5) g/cm(3), the linewidth also decreases so that the iron transition arrays show more discrete line structures and the linewidth becomes very important to the Rosseland mean opacity.

Detailed-term-accounting-approximation simulation of x-ray transmission through laser-produced Al plasmas

An extensive configuration interaction (CI) scheme and the R-matrix method are combined to calculate the x-ray transmission spectrum for high-power laser-produced Al plasmas in local thermodynamic equilibrium by using the detailed-term-accounting (DTA) approximation. All atomic parameters such as state levels and photoabsorption cross sections for different ionization stages are obtained by using the CI and R-matrix method. Special attention is given to the effects of autoionizing resonance broadening on the transmission. A large difference exists between the convergence of the results with and without taking account of autoionizing resonance broadening when the autoionization resonance broadening is the major broadening mechanism. This shows that autoionizing resonance widths of the K-shell excited states have large effects and should be considered to interpret the spectral-resolved transmission.

Detailed measurements of a diffusive supersonic wave in a radiatively heated foam

We have made the first detailed measurements of a diffusive supersonic radiation wave in the laboratory. A 10 mg/cm(3) SiO2 foam is radiatively heated by the x-ray flux from a laser-irradiated hohlraum. The resulting radiation wave propagates axially through the optically thick foam and is measured via time-resolved x-ray imaging as it breaks out the far end. The data show that the radiation wave breaks out at the center prior to breaking out at the edges, indicating a significant curvature in the radiation front. This curvature is primarily due to energy loss into the walls surrounding the foam.