The opacities of iron and other mid-Z elements help to regulate the transport of energy in the sun. Recent experiments on the Sandia National Laboratories Z machine have shown large discrepancies between the measured and calculated opacities of iron at certain solar conditions. To replicate these opacity measurements a platform is being developed on the National Ignition Facility to measure the opacities of iron and other elements at the same conditions as in the Z experiments. The NIF platform consists of a hohlraum to heat the opacity sample to the desired conditions, a separate backlighter to radiograph the sample, and a spectrometer to give the spectrally resolved opacity. Not only must the opacity be measured but the temperature and density of the sample must also be accurately determined. This platform has now produced its first iron transmission measurements. These measurements will be presented along with plans for future measurements and details on how the measurements will be improved.

A point-projection soft X-ray Opacity Spectrometer (OpSpec) has been implemented to measure X-ray spectra from ∼1 to 2 keV on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Measurement of such soft X-rays with open-aperture point-projection detectors is challenging because only very thin filters may be used to shield the detector from the hostile environment. OpSpec diffracts X-rays from 540 to 2100 eV off a potassium (or rubidium) acid phthalate (KAP or RbAP) crystal onto either image plates or, most recently, X-ray films. A "sacrificial front filter" strategy is used to prevent crystal damage, while 2 or 3 rear filters protect the data. Since May 2017, OpSpec has been recording X-ray transmission data for iron-magnesium plasmas on the NIF, at "Anchor 1" plasma conditions (temperature ∼150 eV, density ∼7 × 1021 e -/cm3). Upgrades improved OpSpec's performance on 6 NIF shots in August and December 2017, with reduced backgrounds and 100% data return using filter stacks as thin as 2.9 μm (total). Photometric noise is beginning to meet requirements, and further work will reduce systematic errors.

Recent iron opacity experiments on the Sandia National Laboratories Z machine have reported up to factors of two discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results. Much effort has been invested in identifying experimental errors as well as revisiting opacity theories, but a resolution of the discrepancies has not been forthcoming. We emphasize the discrepancies present a fundamental theoretical challenge. To help resolve this question, an experimental platform for opacity experiments is being developed at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This platform will be able to replicate the experimental conditions of the Z experiments and also extend the measurements to other temperatures and densities. Experiments to date have demonstrated a satisfactory X-ray backlighting source and have achieved the appropriate plasma conditions in the opacity sample. Some initial iron data have been taken, but problems remain with backgrounds and with the spectrometer used to make the measurements. The path forward for correcting these problems is presented. We expect that data for comparing with the Z experiments will be available within a year.

We are developing a novel diagnostic for measurement of bulk fluid motion in materials, that is particularly applicable to very hot, x-ray emitting plasmas in the High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) regime. The X-ray Doppler Velocimetry (XDV) technique relies on monochromatic imaging in multiple x-ray energy bands near the center of an x-ray emission line in a plasma, and utilizes bent imaging crystals. Higher energy bands are preferentially sensitive to plasma moving towards the viewer, while lower energy bands are preferentially sensitive to plasma moving away from the viewer. Combining multiple images in different energy bands allows for a reconstruction of the fluid velocity field integrated along the line of sight. We review the technique, and we discuss progress towards benchmarking the technique with proof-of-principle HEDP experiments.

X-ray opacity is a crucial factor in all radiation-hydrodynamics calculations, yet it is one of the least validated of the material properties in simulation codes for high-energy-density plasmas. Recent opacity experiments at the Sandia Z-machine have shown up to factors of two discrepancies between theory and experiment for various mid-Z elements (Fe, Cr, Ni). These discrepancies raise doubts regarding the accuracy of the opacity models which are used in ICF and stewardship as well as in astrophysics. Therefore, a new experimental opacity platform has been developed on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), not only to verify the Z-machine experimental results, but also to extend the experiments to other temperatures and densities. Within the context of the national opacity strategy, the first NIF experiments were directed towards measuring the opacity of iron at a temperature of ~160 eV and an electron density of ~7xl021 cm-3(Anchor 1). The Z data agree with theory at these conditions, providing a reference point for validation of the NIF platform. Development shots on NIF have demonstrated the ability to create a sufficiently bright point backlighter using an imploding plastic capsule, and also a combined hohlraum, sample and laser drive able to produce iron plasmas at the desired conditions. Spectrometer qualification has been completed, albeit with additional improvements planned, and the first iron absorption spectra have now been obtained.

We describe a novel technique for measuring bulk fluid motion in materials that is particularly applicable to very hot, x-ray emitting plasmas in the high energy density physics (HEDP) regime. This X-ray Doppler Velocimetry technique relies on monochromatic imaging in multiple closely-spaced wavelength bands near the center of an x-ray emission line in a plasma, and utilizes bent crystals to provide the monochromatic images. Shorter wavelength bands are preferentially sensitive to plasma moving toward the viewer, while longer wavelength bands are preferentially sensitive to plasma moving away from the viewer. Combining multiple images in different wavelength bands allows for reconstruction of the fluid velocity field integrated along the line of sight. Extensions are also possible for absorption geometries, and for three dimensions. We describe the technique, and we present the results of simulations performed to benchmark the viability of the technique for implosion plasma diagnosis.

Accurate models of X-ray absorption and re-emission in partly stripped ions are necessary to calculate the structure of stars, the performance of hohlraums for inertial confinement fusion and many other systems in high-energy-density plasma physics. Despite theoretical progress, a persistent discrepancy exists with recent experiments at the Sandia Z facility studying iron in conditions characteristic of the solar radiative–convective transition region. The increased iron opacity measured at Z could help resolve a longstanding issue with the standard solar model, but requires a radical departure for opacity theory. To replicate the Z measurements, an opacity experiment has been designed for the National Facility (NIF). The design uses established techniques scaled to NIF. A laser-heated hohlraum will produce X-ray-heated uniform iron plasmas in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) at temperatures ${\geqslant}150$ eV and electron densities ${\geqslant}7\times 10^{21}~\text{cm}^{-3}$ . The iron will be probed using continuum X-rays emitted in a ${\sim}200$ ps, ${\sim}200~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$ diameter source from a 2 mm diameter polystyrene (CH) capsule implosion. In this design, $2/3$ of the NIF beams deliver 500 kJ to the ${\sim}6$ mm diameter hohlraum, and the remaining $1/3$ directly drive the CH capsule with 200 kJ. Calculations indicate this capsule backlighter should outshine the iron sample, delivering a point-projection transmission opacity measurement to a time-integrated X-ray spectrometer viewing down the hohlraum axis. Preliminary experiments to develop the backlighter and hohlraum are underway, informing simulated measurements to guide the final design.

X-ray opacity is a crucial factor of all radiation-hydrodynamics calculations, yet it is one of the least validated of the material properties in the simulation codes. Recent opacity experiments at the Sandia Z machine have shown up to factors of two discrepancies between theory and experiment, casting doubt on the validity of the opacity models. Therefore, a new experimental opacity platform is being developed on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) not only to verify the Z-machine experimental results but also to extend the experiments to other temperatures and densities. The first experiments will be directed towards measuring the opacity of iron at a temperature of similar to 160 eV and an electron density of similar to 7 x 10(21) cm(-3). Preliminary experiments on NIF have demonstrated the ability to create a sufficiently bright point backlighter using an imploding plastic capsule and also a hohlraum that can heat the opacity sample to the desired conditions. The first of these iron opacity experiments is expected to be performed in 2017. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V

Direct drive implosions of plastic capsules have been performed at the National Ignition Facility to provide a broad-spectrum (500-2000 eV) X-ray continuum source for X-ray transmission spectroscopy. The source was developed for the high-temperature plasma opacity experimental platform. Initial experiments using 2.0 mm diameter polyalpha-methyl styrene capsules with ∼20 μm thickness have been performed. X-ray yields of up to ∼1 kJ/sr have been measured using the Dante multichannel diode array. The backlighter source size was measured to be ∼100 μm FWHM, with ∼350 ps pulse duration during the peak emission stage. Results are used to simulate transmission spectra for a hypothetical iron opacity sample at 150 eV, enabling the derivation of photometrics requirements for future opacity experiments.