Dense Plasma Transport and Spectroscopy

University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

Investigators

Abstract

The overall objective of this research is to further the understanding of a set of basic atomic and ionic processes significant to plasma science. Three topics will be pursued in detail. 1) The electrical conductivity of dense, cool plasmas will be measured in order to benchmark transport theory of strongly coupled plasmas. 2) Emission and absorption spectra involving low excitation states of He-, Li-, and Be-like ions in well-diagnosed laser-produced plasmas will be measured and the results compared with theory and simulations to test current models. 3) Measurements of x-ray spectral satellite lines will be carried out in order to test theories that the appearance of these lines is due to charge transfer collisions in dense plasmas.