Application of spectral line shapes to the study of high density ICF plasmas

Abstract

Spectral line broadening manifests itself in the study of high density inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasmas in two important ways. First, comparison between measured and calculated lineshapes of individual spectral lines or groups of lines is used to diagnose plasma conditions in dense ICF plasmas, particularly in implosions. Secondly, through the emission and absorption coefficients spectral lineshapes serve as important inputs to plasma spectroscopy simulation codes which calculate simulated spectra from ICF targets. We discuss recent results from each of these areas. With regard to lineshape diagnostics, the advent of generalized line broadening codes has allowed the line profiles of complex multielectron emitters to be considered for diagnostic purposes. Particular example of this is the use of Ar He‐β and its associated dielectronic satellites as a diagnostic of Te and Ne, as well as the development of Ne‐like Xe line broadening as a density diagnostic. With respect to simulation codes, the implementation of detailed lineshapes in calculations of this type is in many ways in its infancy. We present here examples of cases where effects related to spectral lineshapes such as continuum lowering and line transfer of Stark broadened lines are important so as to provide a stimulus for future work in this field.