RESUMEN
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.
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We have studied, for the first time by electron spectroscopy, the Auger decay of the 4dânf (n=4,5) resonances in Xe^{5+} ion. By detecting in coincidence the Auger electrons with the resulting Xe^{6+} ions, we unravel the contribution of the different final ionic states to the total cross section measured by ion spectroscopy. A strong intensity of 5s5p satellite lines has been observed, up to 4 times stronger than the 5s^{2} main lines. This unexpected behavior is confirmed by multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations. This technique provides the most stringent test for theoretical models and allows us to disentangle the contribution of ions in the ground and metastable states in the target beam.
RESUMEN
Nearly a century ago it was recognized that radiation absorption by stellar matter controls the internal temperature profiles within stars. Laboratory opacity measurements, however, have never been performed at stellar interior conditions, introducing uncertainties in stellar models. A particular problem arose when refined photosphere spectral analysis led to reductions of 30-50 per cent in the inferred amounts of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in the Sun. Standard solar models using the revised element abundances disagree with helioseismic observations that determine the internal solar structure using acoustic oscillations. This could be resolved if the true mean opacity for the solar interior matter were roughly 15 per cent higher than predicted, because increased opacity compensates for the decreased element abundances. Iron accounts for a quarter of the total opacity at the solar radiation/convection zone boundary. Here we report measurements of wavelength-resolved iron opacity at electron temperatures of 1.9-2.3 million kelvin and electron densities of (0.7-4.0) × 10(22) per cubic centimetre, conditions very similar to those in the solar region that affects the discrepancy the most: the radiation/convection zone boundary. The measured wavelength-dependent opacity is 30-400 per cent higher than predicted. This represents roughly half the change in the mean opacity needed to resolve the solar discrepancy, even though iron is only one of many elements that contribute to opacity.
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Using ion carbon beams generated by high intensity short pulse lasers we perform measurements of single shot mean charge equilibration in cold or isochorically heated solid density aluminum matter. We demonstrate that plasma effects in such matter heated up to 1 eV do not significantly impact the equilibration of carbon ions with energies 0.045-0.5 MeV/nucleon. Furthermore, these measurements allow for a first evaluation of semiempirical formulas or ab initio models that are being used to predict the mean of the equilibrium charge state distribution for light ions passing through warm dense matter.
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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.
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Coupling an ion trap with synchrotron radiation is shown here to be a powerful approach to measure photoionization cross sections on ionic species relaxed in their ground state. The photoionization efficiency curve of Xe+ ions stored in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance ion trap was recorded at ELETTRA in the 20-23 eV photon energy range. Absolute cross sections were derived by comparison of the photoionization yield of Xe+ with measurements from the ASTRID merged-beam experiment. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations were performed for the interpretation of these new data.
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Thermodynamics of irreversible processes is applied to study the interaction of matter and radiation field in nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium. The rate of entropy production of matter and radiation field, in contact with a free electron reservoir in local thermodynamic equilibrium, is obtained using the conjugate variables of the state variables. When approximating the electronic configuration populations by an effective Boltzmann law, the corresponding effective temperature is determined by minimizing the rate of entropy production at fixed electronic density, electronic temperature, and radiation field. Numerical results and comparisons with recent experiment for photoionized iron plasma are presented and discussed.
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We hereby present a model to describe the thermodynamic and transport properties of dense plasmas. The electronic and ionic structures are determined self-consistently using finite-temperature density functional theory and Gibbs-Bogolyubov inequality. The main thermodynamic quantities, i.e., internal energy, pressure, entropy, and sound speed, are obtained by numerical differentiation of the plasma total Helmholtz free energy. Electronic electrical and thermal conductivities are calculated from the Ziman approach. Ionic transport coefficients are estimated using those of hard-sphere system and the Rosenfeld semiempirical "universal" correspondence between excess entropy and dimensionless transport coefficients of dense fluids. Numerical results and comparisons with experiments are presented and discussed.
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Isochore measurements were performed in the warm dense matter regime. Pressure and internal energy variation of aluminum plasma (density 0.1 g/cm(3) and 0.3 g/cm(3)) are measured using a homogeneous and thermally equilibrated media produced inside an isochoric plasma closed vessel in the internal energy range 20-50 MJ/kg. These data are compared to detailed calculations obtained from ab initio quantum molecular dynamics, average atom model within the framework of the density functional theory, and standard theories. A dispersion between theoretical isochore equation of state is found in the studied experimental thermodynamic regime.
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Electrical resistivity, pressure, and internal energy variation of warm dense correlated titanium (density 0.2 g/cm(3)) and aluminum (density 0.1 g/cm(3)) plasmas are measured using a homogeneous and thermally equilibrated media produced inside an isochoric closed-vessel plasma. These data are compared to detailed calculations based on the density functional theory. In the studied temperature range (15,000-30,000 K), it appears that both exchange-correlation and ion-ion interaction treatments are of great importance to calculate accurate theoretical values.
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A time-dependent collisional-radiative average-atom model is presented to study statistical properties of highly charged ion plasmas in off-equilibrium conditions. The time evolution of electron populations and the electron covariance matrix is obtained as approximate solutions of a master equation. Atomic structure is described either with a screened-hydrogenic model including l splitting, or by calculating one-electron states in a self-consistent average-atom potential. Collisional and radiative excitation/deexcitation and ionization/recombination rates, as well as autoionization and dielectronic recombination rates, are formulated within the average-configuration framework. Local thermodynamic equilibrium is obtained as a specific steady-state solution. The influence of atomic structure and the role of autoionization and dielectronic recombination processes are studied by calculating steady-state average ionization and ionization variance of hot plasmas with or without radiation field.
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Photoionization of multiply charged ions of the Ba isonuclear sequence up to Ba6+ has been studied in a beam-beam experiment. A very strong increase in the resonance structures was observed when moving from Ba2+ to Ba6+. Absolute values of the photoionization cross sections were measured for Ba2+ and Ba3+ ions. The interpretation of the results is provided using theoretical multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock and relativistic random phase approximation calculations, showing that the collapse of the nf orbitals occurs for Ba4+.
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We have measured the angle-resolved energy dependence of the electrons emitted over the energy range of the triply excited 2s(2)2p 2P lithium resonance using synchrotron radiation. We have also calculated the behavior of the angular distribution parameter beta using the R-matrix approximation. Experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement and show deep minima in the 1s2p (1, 3)P ionic channels. The energy at which the minima occur does not coincide with the resonance energy, but is shifted towards higher energy.
RESUMEN
Photoionization of Xe4+ to Xe7+ ions was studied by combining an electron cyclotron resonance ion source with synchrotron radiation. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations were performed to interpret the data. Many autoionization lines were measured and identified, resulting from excitation of a 4d electron into nf and np orbitals followed by Auger decay of the excited states. Continuum photoionization is negligible for the higher members of the isonuclear series.
