Detailed model for hot-dense aluminum plasmas generated by an X-ray free electron laser
Physics of Plasmas American Institute of Physics 23:2 (2016)
Abstract:
The possibility of creating hot-dense plasma samples by isochoric heating of solid targets with high-intensity femtosecond X-ray lasers has opened up new opportunities in the experimental study of such systems. A study of the X-ray spectra emitted from solid density plasmas has provided significant insight into the X-ray absorption mechanisms, subsequent target heating, and the conditions of temperature, electron density, and ionization stages produced (Vinko et al., Nature 482, 59–62 (2012)). Furthermore, detailed analysis of the spectra has provided new information on the degree of ionization potential depression in these strongly coupled plasmas (Ciricosta et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 065002 (2012)). Excellent agreement between experimental and simulated spectra has been obtained, but a full outline of the procedure by which this has been achieved has yet to be documented. We present here the details and approximations concerning the modelling of the experiment described in the above referenced work. We show that it is crucial to take into account the spatial and temporal gradients in simulating the overall emission spectra, and discuss how aspects of the model used affect the interpretation of the data in terms of charge-resolved measurements of the ionization potential depression.Simulations of the time and space-resolved X-ray transmission of a free-electron-laser-heated aluminium plasma
Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics IOP Publishing 49:3 (2016) 035603
Abstract:
We present simulations of the time and space-resolved transmission of a solid-density aluminium plasma as it is created and probed with the focussed output of an x-ray free-electron-laser with photon energies ranging from the K-edge of the cold material (1560 eV) to 1880 eV. We demonstrate how information about the temporal evolution of the charge states within the system can be extracted from the spatially resolved, yet time-integrated transmission images. We propose that such time-resolved measurements could in principle be performed with recently developed split-and-delay techniques.
From microjoules to megajoules and kilobars to gigabars: Probing matter at extreme states of deformation
Physics of Plasmas AIP Publishing 22:9 (2015) 090501
Direct Observation of Melting in Shock-Compressed Bismuth With Femtosecond X-ray Diffraction
Physical Review Letters American Physical Society (APS) 115:9 (2015) 095701
Simulations of in situ x-ray diffraction from uniaxially compressed highly textured polycrystalline targets
Journal of Applied Physics AIP Publishing 118:6 (2015) 065902