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Updated: May 22, 2026

Applying X-ray Imaging Crystal Spectroscopy for Use as a High Temperature Plasma Diagnostic
Published on: August 25, 2016
Measurement of radiative shock properties by x-ray Thomson scattering
A J Visco1, R P Drake, S H Glenzer
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Abstract:
X-ray Thomson scattering has enabled us to measure the temperature of a shocked layer, produced in the laboratory, that is relevant to shocks emerging from supernovas. High energy lasers are used to create a shock in argon gas which is probed by x-ray scattering. The scattered, inelastic Compton feature allows inference of the electron temperature. It is measured to be 34 eV in the radiative precursor and ∼60 eV near the shock. Comparison of energy fluxes implied by the data demonstrates that the shock wave is strongly radiative.
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