Simulation study of enhancing laser driven multi-keV line-radiation through application of external magnetic fields.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Kemp, G. E.; Colvin, J. D.; Blue, B. E.; Fournier, K. B.
- Source
- Physics of Plasmas. 2016, Vol. 23 Issue 10, p101204-1-101204-9. 9p. 3 Charts, 12 Graphs.
- Subject
- *RADIATION
*MAGNETIC fields
*PLASMA gases
*HEAT transfer
*ELECTRON temperature
*ELECTRON emission
- Language
- ISSN
- 1070-664X
We present a path forward for enhancing laser driven, multi-keV line-radiation from mid- to high-Z, sub-quarter-critical density, non-equilibrium plasmas through inhibited thermal transport in the presence of an externally generated magnetic field. Preliminary simulations with Kr and Ag suggest that as much as 50%–100% increases in peak electron temperatures are possible—without any changes in laser drive conditions—with magnetized interactions. The increase in temperature results in ∼2−3× enhancements in laser-to-x-ray conversion efficiency for K-shell emission with simultaneous ≲4× reduction in L-shell emission using current field generation capabilities on the Omega laser and near-term capabilities on the National Ignition Facility laser. Increased plasma temperatures and enhanced K-shell emission are observed to come at the cost of degraded volumetric heating. Such enhancements in high-photon-energy x-ray sources could expand the existing laser platforms for increasingly penetrating x-ray radiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]