Experimental tests are in progress to evaluate the accuracy of the modeled iron opacity at solar interior conditions, in particular to better constrain the solar abundance problem [S. Basu and H. M. Antia, Phys. Rep. 457, 217 (2008)]. Here, we describe measurements addressing three of the key requirements for reliable opacity experiments: control of sample conditions, independent sample condition diagnostics, and verification of sample condition uniformity. The opacity samples consist of iron/magnesium layers tamped by plastic. By changing the plastic thicknesses, we have controlled the iron plasma conditions to reach (1) Te = 167 ± 3 eV and ne = (7.1 ± 1.5)× 1021 cm−3, (2) Te = 170 ± 2 eV and ne = (2.0 ± 0.2) × 1022 cm−3, and (3) Te = 196 ± 6 eV and ne = (3.8 ± 0.8) × 1022 cm−3, which were measured by magnesium tracer K-shell spectroscopy. The opacity sample non-uniformity was directly measured by a separate experiment where Al is mixed into the side of the sample facing the radiation source and Mg into the other side. The iron condition was confirmed to be uniform within their measurement uncertainties by Al and Mg K-shell spectroscopy. The conditions are suitable for testing opacity calculations needed for modeling the solar interior, other stars, and high energy density plasmas.
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May 2014
Research Article|
May 14 2014
Control and diagnosis of temperature, density, and uniformity in x-ray heated iron/magnesium samples for opacity measurementsa)
T. Nagayama;
T. Nagayama
b)
1
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
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J. E. Bailey;
J. E. Bailey
1
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
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G. Loisel;
G. Loisel
1
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
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S. B. Hansen;
S. B. Hansen
1
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
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G. A. Rochau;
G. A. Rochau
1
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
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R. C. Mancini;
R. C. Mancini
2Physics Department,
University of Nevada
, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
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J. J. MacFarlane;
J. J. MacFarlane
3
Prism Computational Sciences
, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, USA
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I. Golovkin
I. Golovkin
3
Prism Computational Sciences
, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, USA
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T. Nagayama
1,b)
J. E. Bailey
1
G. Loisel
1
S. B. Hansen
1
G. A. Rochau
1
R. C. Mancini
2
J. J. MacFarlane
3
I. Golovkin
3
1
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
2Physics Department,
University of Nevada
, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
3
Prism Computational Sciences
, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, USA
Phys. Plasmas 21, 056502 (2014)
Article history
Received:
December 15 2013
Accepted:
February 12 2014
Citation
T. Nagayama, J. E. Bailey, G. Loisel, S. B. Hansen, G. A. Rochau, R. C. Mancini, J. J. MacFarlane, I. Golovkin; Control and diagnosis of temperature, density, and uniformity in x-ray heated iron/magnesium samples for opacity measurements. Phys. Plasmas 1 May 2014; 21 (5): 056502. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4872324
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