X-ray Line Polarization of Mo X-pinch Radiation

ORAL

Abstract

Polarization of x-ray radiation is a powerful tool in the study of atomic processes in astrophysical and high-energy-density (HED) plasmas, all of which can be effectively studied through pulse-powered laboratory plasmas. Furthermore, x-ray polarization can be a formidable diagnostic in the detection of non-Maxwellian, suprathermal electrons, which have been shown to induce linearly polarized spectral emission through collisional processes with ions. In this talk, we explore the polarization of Mo radiation from HED high-Z laboratory plasmas on the Zebra Generator at the UNR Nevada Terawatt Facility. We investigate the polarization of Mo (Z $=$ 42) plasma radiation through dual $\alpha $-quartz crystal (2d $=$ 6.67 {\AA}) spectropolarimetry with horizontal and vertical spatial resolution. In particular, polarization is evaluated through a comparative analysis of relative line intensities observed over a range of Ne-like Mo transitions. This is the first comprehensive study of x-ray line polarization in Mo HED plasmas.

*This work was supported by NNSA under DOE grant DE-NA0002954. Experiments at the NTF/UNR were funded in part by DE-NA0002075.

Authors

  • R.R. Childers

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • E.E. Petkov

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • A.A. Safronova

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • V.L. Kantsyrev

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • I.K. Shrestha

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • M. Cooper

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • A. Stafford

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • K.A. Schultz

    • University of Nevada, Reno
  • C.J. Butcher

    • University of Nevada, Reno