Generation of photoionized plasmas in the laboratory: analogues to astrophysical sources

Conference item

Implementation of a novel experimental approach using a bright source of narrowband X-ray emission has enabled the production of a photoionized argon plasma of relevance to astrophysical modelling codes such as Cloudy. We present results showing that the photoionization parameter ζ = 4ÏF/ne generated using the VULCAN laser was ≈ 50 erg cm s-1, higher than those obtained previously with more powerful facilities. Comparison of our argon emission-line spectra in the 4.15-4.25 Å range at varying initial gas pressures with predictions from the Cloudy code and a simple time-dependent code are also presented. Finally we briefly discuss how this proof-of-principle experiment may be scaled to larger facilities such as ORION to produce the closest laboratory analogue to a photoionized plasma.

Authors: White, S; Irwin, R; Warwick, R; Sarri, G; Gribakin, GF

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Host title: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Journal: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Volume: 15
• Issue: S350
• Pages: 321-325
• Publication date: 2020-10-12
• Acceptance date: 2020-10-01
• DOI: 10.1017/S174392131900961X
• EISSN: 1743-9221
• ISSN: 1743-9213
• Language: English
• Keywords: FFR