Experimental methods for laboratory measurements of helium spectral line broadening in white dwarf photospheres

Schaeuble, M. -A.; Nagayama, T.; Bailey, J. E.; Dunlap, B. H.; Patel, S.

doi:10.1063/5.0047931

Experimental methods for laboratory measurements of helium spectral line broadening in white dwarf photospheres

Journal Article · Fri Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0047931· OSTI ID:2567598

; Nagayama, T.; Bailey, J. E.; Dunlap, B. H.; Patel, S.

White Dwarf (WD) stars are the most common stellar remnant in the universe. WDs usually have a hydrogen or helium atmosphere, and helium WD (called DB) spectra can be used to solve outstanding problems in stellar and galactic evolution. DB origins, which are still a mystery, must be known to solve these problems. DB masses are crucial for discriminating between different proposed DB evolutionary hypotheses. Current DB mass determination methods deliver conflicting results. The spectroscopic mass determination method relies on line broadening models that have not been validated at DB atmosphere conditions. We performed helium benchmark experiments using the White Dwarf Photosphere Experiment (WDPE) platform at Sandia National Laboratories' Z-machine that aims to study He line broadening at DB conditions. Using hydrogen/helium mixture plasmas allows investigating the importance of He Stark and van der Waals broadening simultaneously. Accurate experimental data reduction methods are essential to test these line-broadening theories. In this paper, we present data calibration methods for these benchmark He line shape experiments. We give a detailed account of data processing, spectral power calibrations, and instrument broadening measurements. Uncertainties for each data calibration step are also derived. We demonstrate that our experiments meet all benchmark experiment accuracy requirements: WDPE wavelength uncertainties are <1 Å, spectral powers can be determined to within 15%, densities are accurate at the 20% level, and instrumental broadening can be measured with 20% accuracy. Fulfilling these stringent requirements enables WDPE experimental data to provide physically meaningful conclusions about line broadening at DB conditions.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; NA0003843

OSTI ID:: 2567598

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1810378
OSTI ID: 1797609

Report Number(s):: SAND2021-7483J; 062902

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 28; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of PhysicsCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Experimental methods for laboratory measurements of helium spectral line broadening in white dwarf photospheres

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