Dense plasma diagnostics by means of X-ray scattering

Summary form only given. A new method for diagnosing hot dense partially ionized plasmas by means of X-ray scattering is proposed. The very distinct angular distribution of the scattered X-rays calculated on the basis of the separate contributions of the bound and free electrons gives detailed information on the plasma. Results are presented for aluminium plasmas at a temperature of 20 eV at densities ranging from 0.01 to 10 g/cm/sup 3/. The cross section for the scattering of 7.47 keV X-rays (Ni K alpha) as a function of angle shows a very distinct dependence on the plasma density as do results at a constant density of 0.1 g/cm/sup 3/ with temperatures between 10 and 50 eV. X-ray scattering from carbon plasmas at a density of 0.001 g/cm/sup 3/ for temperatures ranging from 2 to 40 eV was also calculated. Such plasmas are being produced in high-intensity Li beam interactions with plasma targets in connection with inertial-confinement-fusion studies.