Characterization of Non-LTE Gold Plasmas in Controlled Conditions with Finite Tr

摘要

Understanding the charge state distribution of gold plasmas, especially in conditions far from local thermodynamic equilibrium ('non-LTE conditions'), is among the issues in ICF hohlraum physics research. Detailed models of these plasmas have historically disagreed by several charge states under a given set of conditions; simplified models in radiation-hydrodynamics codes disagree more. This impacts the accurate prediction of radiation coupling within the hohlraum. Nova laser data for uniform gold plasmas at T(sub e)=2.2 and T(sub r) <0.05 keV and additional data from plasmas inside hohlraums have not resolved all of the issues. Here we report experiments using the Omega laser to obtain data over a wider parameter space. Gold samples embedded in Be disks expand under direct laser heating to n(sub e) approximates 10(sup 21) cm (sup -3) with T(sub e) from 1 to 3 keV.