X-ray Thomson scattering is being developed as a method to measure the temperature, electron density, and ionization state of high energy density plasmas such as those used in inertial confinement fusion. Most experiments are currently done at large
laser facilities that can create bright X-ray sources, however the advent of the X-ray free electron laser (X-FEL) provides a new bright source to use in these experiments. One challenge with X-ray Thomson scattering experiments is understanding how to model the scattering for partially ionized plasmas in order to include the contributions of the bound electrons in the scattered intensity. In this work we take the existing models of Thomson scattering that include elastic ion-ion scattering and the electron-electron plasmon scattering and add the contribution of the bound electrons in the partially ionized plasmas. We validated our model by analyzing existing beryllium experimental data. We then consider several higher Z materials such as Cr and predict the existence of additional peaks in the scattering spectrum that requires new computational tools to understand. We also show examples of experiments in CH and Al that have bound contributions that change the shape of the scattered spectra.
Recent calculations [Nilsen et al. arXiv:1212.5972] predict that contributions to the scattered photon spectrum from 3s and 3p bound states in chromium (Z=24) at metallic density and T=12 eV resonate below the respective bound-state thresholds. These
resonances are shown to be closely related to continuum lowering, where 3d bound states in the free atom dissolve into a resonant l=2 partial wave in the continuum. The resulting d-state resonance dominates contributions to the bound-free dynamic structure function, leading to the predicted resonances in the scattered X-ray spectrum. Similar resonant features are shown to occur in all elements in the periodic table between Ca and Mn (20 <= Z <= 25).
X-ray Thomson scattering is being developed as a method to measure the temperature, electron density, and ionization state of high energy density plasmas such as those used in inertial confinement fusion. X-ray laser sources have always been of inter
est because of the need to have a bright monochromatic x-ray source to overcome plasma emission and eliminate other lines in the background that complicate the analysis. With the advent of the xray free electron laser (X-FEL) at the SLAC Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and other facilities coming online worldwide, we now have such a source available in the keV regime. Most Thomson scattering codes used to model experimental data greatly simplify or neglect the contributions of the bound electrons to the scattered intensity. In this work we take the existing models of Thomson scattering that include elastic ion-ion scattering and inelastic electron-electron scattering and add the contribution of bound electrons in the partially ionized plasmas. To date, most experiments have studied hydrogen or beryllium plasmas. We first analyze existing experimental data for beryllium to validate the code. We then consider several higher Z materials such as Cr and predict the existence of additional peaks in the scattering spectrum that requires new computational tools to understand. For a Sn plasma, we show that bound contributions change the shape of the scattered spectrum in a way that would change the plasma temperature and density inferred from experiment.
A scheme for analyzing Thomson scattering of x-rays by warm dense matter, based on the average-atom model, is developed. Emphasis is given to x-ray scattering by bound electrons. Contributions to the scattered x-ray spectrum from elastic scattering b
y electrons moving with the ions and from inelastic scattering by free and bound electrons are evaluated using parameters (chemical potential, average ionic charge, free electron density, bound and continuum wave functions, and occupation numbers) taken from the average-atom model. The resulting scheme provides a relatively simple diagnostic for use in connection with x-ray scattering measurements. Applications are given to dense hydrogen, beryllium, aluminum, titanium, and tin plasmas. At high momentum transfer, contributions from inelastic scattering by bound electrons are dominant features of the scattered x-ray spectrum for aluminum, titanium, and tin.
For the last decade numerous researchers have been trying to develop experimental techniques to use X-ray Thomson scattering as a method to measure the temperature, electron density, and ionization state of high energy density plasmas such as those u
sed in inertial confinement fusion. With the advent of the X-ray free electron laser (X-FEL) at the SLAC Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) we now have such a source available in the keV regime. One challenge with X-ray Thomson scattering experiments is understanding how to model the scattering for partially ionized plasmas. Most Thomson scattering codes used to model experimental data greatly simplify or neglect the contributions of the bound electrons to the scattered intensity. In this work we take the existing models of Thomson scattering that include elastic ion-ion scattering and the electron-electron plasmon scattering and add the contribution of the bound electrons in the partially ionized plasmas. Except for hydrogen plasmas almost every plasma that is studied today has bound electrons and it is important to understand their contribution to the Thomson scattering, especially as new X-ray sources such as the X-FEL will allow us to study much higher Z plasmas. Currently most experiments have looked at hydrogen or beryllium. We will first look at the bound electron contributions to beryllium by analysing existing experimental data. We then consider several higher Z materials such as Cr and predict the existence of additional peaks in the scattering spectrum that requires new computational tools to understand. For a Sn plasma we show that the bound contributions changes the shape of the scattered spectrum in a way that would change the plasma temperature and density inferred by the experiment.
The average-atom model is applied to study Thomson scattering of x-rays from warm-dense matter with emphasis on scattering by bound electrons. Parameters needed to evaluate the dynamic structure function (chemical potential, average ionic charge, fre
e electron density, bound and continuum wave-functions and occupation numbers) are obtained from the average-atom model. The resulting analysis provides a relatively simple diagnostic for use in connection with x-ray scattering measurements. Applications are given to dense hydrogen, beryllium, aluminum and titanium plasmas. In the case of titanium, bound states are predicted to modify the spectrum significantly.
