Experimental measurements of the opacity of plasmas at densities close to solid state and temperatures ~ 60 - 300 eV using a probing X-ray laser are presented. Utilizing thin targets, opacities of iron have been measured using x-ray lasers of photon energy 89 eV created by pumping with the VULCAN RAL laser. The thin targets are separately heated by spot focus laser pulses. We have demonstrated that X-ray laser brightness is sufficient to overcome the self-emission of hot plasma so that useful opacity measurements can be made. Due to their high brightness, x-ray lasers can fulfill a useful niche in measuring opacity and other phenomena associated with laser-plasma interactions. Quantities such as opacity measured in laser-plasmas are useful elsewhere. For example, plasma opacity is important in understanding radiative transfer in the sun.

Date Published: 13 September 2005
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 5919, Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications VI, 59190G (13 September 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.619259

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5919:
Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications VI
Ernst E. Fill, Editor(s)