Electron density measurement of a colliding plasma using soft x-ray laser interferometry
The understanding of the collision and subsequent interaction of counter-streaming high-density plasmas is important for the design of indirectly-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) hohlraums. We have employed a soft x-ray Mach-Zehnder interferometer, using a Ne- like Y x-ray laser at 155 {angstrom} as the probe source, to study interpenetration and stagnation of two colliding plasmas. We observed a peaked density profile at the symmetry axis with a wide stagnation region with width of order 100 {mu}m. We compare the measured density profile with density profiles calculated by the radiation hydrodynamic code LASNEX and a multi-specie fluid code which allows for interpenetration. The measured density profile falls in between the calculated profiles using collisionless and fluid approximations. By using different target materials and irradiation configurations, we can vary the collisionality of the plasma. We hope to use the soft x-ray laser interferometry as a mechanism to validate and benchmark our numerical codes used for the design and analysis of high-energy- density physics experiments.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 276923
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-123154; CONF-9606229-6; ON: DE96012518; TRN: 96:020728
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 24. European conference on laser interaction with matter, Madrid (Spain), 3-7 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: May 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Electron density measurement of a colliding plasma using soft-x-ray laser interferometry