World’s Most Powerful Laser Reveals Secrets of Pressure-Driven Ionization in Stars and Nuclear Fusion — Scientists at Lawrence Liv |
Scientists have conducted laboratory experiments at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that generated the extreme compressions necessary for pressure-driven ionization. Their research provides new insights for atomic physics at gigabar pressures, which benefits astrophysics and nuclear fusion research.
. “It’s like putting a thermometer into the star and measuring how hot it is and what these conditions do to the atoms inside the material. It can teach us new ways to manipulate matter for fusion energy sources.”National Ignition Facility Matter in the interior of giant planets and some relatively cool stars is highly compressed by the weight of the layers above. At such high pressures, generated by high compression, the proximity of atomic nuclei leads to interactions between electronic bound states of neighboring ions and ultimately to their complete ionization. While ionization in burning stars is primarily determined by temperature, pressure-driven ionization dominates in cooler objects.
The research also has significant implications for inertial confinement fusion experiments at NIF, where X-ray absorption and compressibility are key parameters for optimizing high-performance fusion experiments. A comprehensive understanding of pressure- and temperature-driven ionization is essential for modeling compressed materials and ultimately for developing an abundant, carbon-free energy source by means of laser-driven nuclear fusion, Döppner said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Burglars target Chicago medical spas, steal high end laser equipmentChicago police said burglars have been targeting medical spas in Chicago for overnight break-ins, with incidents spanning from Wicker Park to the Near South Side.
Read more »
'Strange New Worlds' Season 2 Image: 'Lower Decks' Boards the EnterpriseMariner and Boimler board the Enterprise in this image from StarTrek's StrangeNewWorlds x LowerDecks crossover episode.
Read more »
'Strange New Worlds' Season 2 Trailer Beams Up 'Lower Decks' CrossoverThe latest StrangeNewWorlds trailer teases Klingons, Carol Kane, and a StarTrek crossover with the cast of LowerDecks. Watch it now:
Read more »
Strange New Worlds Can Have A Major Kirk Wrath Of Khan SetupKirk's arrival in Star Trek: SNW season 2 sets up various elements from Wrath of Khan, but the most interesting will be the birth of his son David.
Read more »
Best space settlement games: Manage bases & build cities on other worldsWe're still a ways off from living on other planets in the real world, but the best space settlement games let you tame the unknown today.
Read more »
Colorado’s Deion Sanders delivers powerful message about ‘success’ in first meeting with ‘new team’Deion Sanders delivered a powerful message to Colorado's football team over the weekend after a massive overhaul saw more than 70 players enter the transfer portal since August.
Read more »