Analysis on the FLYCHK opacity of X-pinch wire materials

Abstract

The plasma opacities of the widely used X-pinch target materials (Cu, Mo, W) are calculated over a wide temperature and density range (T\u2009=\u200910–3–102\xa0keV, ρ\u2009=\u20091016–1024\xa0cm−3) by using the collisional radiative code FLYCHK. Including the scattering effect, the FLYCHK opacity of the mid-Z element copper is in good agreement with the Los Alamos opacity code ATOMIC in the broad T–ρ range corresponding to typical X-pinch plasma conditions. In a strongly coupled region, a few corrections, such as the degeneracy effect for the free–free opacity, may be required to improve accuracies. The absence of a Δn\u2009=\u20090 transition and the simple scattering opacity formula in FLYCHK also cause the characteristics of the FLYCHK opacity data. The plasma opacities of the high-Z elements molybdenum and tungsten are also calculated. These results can be used as basic inputs for various radiative hydrodynamic simulations not only for X-pinch plasmas but for different types of high-energy–density plasma research.