Analysis of X-ray and Thomson scattering data from non-LTE Nb and Ta plasmas

Abstract In this paper, we analyse the results of experiments performed on the LULI2000 laser facility. Nb and Ta dot targets were heated by up to ∼800 J of 2 ω laser light in 1.5 ns pulses. The expanding plasma was characterised by Thomson scattering (TS) of a probe laser beam, and time-integrated L- and M-shell X-ray spectroscopy. The TS probe was operated both during laser operation and after the end of the laser pulse, providing ionisation data near the Ne-like or Ni-like closed shells as well as for the recombining plasma. We give the results of 2D radiative hydrodynamics, non-LTE kinetics calculations and detailed spectroscopy that show a satisfactory agreement between experimental and theoretical data.