Multi-Element Stark Broadening for Diagnosing Electron Density in Hed Plasmas

The interpretation of spectral line shapes for plasma characterization is well established as a diagnostic technique for determining number density and electron temperature, essential parameters for predicting radiation dynamics, local thermodynamic equilibrium, and atomic kinetics in laboratory and astrophysical environments. Specifically, Stark broadening is often used to diagnose a plasma's electron density via a tracer element. Weare interested in testing whether Stark broadening models can predict the plasma density from multiple elements within the same plasma, and whether this is done self-consistently. In order to do so, we diagnose transmission spectra through ~0.4-um-thick Mg-NaF foil that is heated and backlit by the Z Pinch Dynamic Hohlraum (ZPDH) at Sandia's Z machine. This foil is tamped on the front and back by incremental amounts of CH, allowing for electron densities between 1x10
²¹
and 1x10
²²
to be reached. The foil was heated such that He-like charge states were reached for all three elements, allowing for investigation of Stark broadening of those lines. The amount of broadening found from different elements, and different tamper thicknesses will be presented.