How Do Atoms Alter during a Supernova Explosion?
The World of Extreme State Atoms Realized through Ultra-bright X-rays Generated by Visible Lasers with Relativistic Intensities
A research group from Osaka University, in collaboration with an international research team, successfully realized in laboratory the world of exotic atoms under extreme state through high - brightness X-ray sources, typically realized in supernova explosions. A world first research produced highly unusual plasma composed of hollow atoms by utilizing the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) Kansai Advanced Relativistic Engineering Laser (J-KAREN), one of the world’s most powerful compact femtosecond laser facility.
For this research, Anatoly FAENOV of the Division of Photon Science and Technology of the Institute for Academic Initiatives and Mamiko NISHIUCHI of the JAEA’s Quantum Beam Science Center, along with an international collaborative research team, performed an experiment to demonstrate that it is possible to remove the two most deeply bound electrons from atoms, emptying the inner most quantum shell and leading to a distinctive plasma state through the generation of ultra-bright x-rays (See Fig.1). The irradiation of an incredibly powerful high contrast J-KAREN laser beam to a solid matter allowed successfully to attain X-rays with a radiative temperature of 15,000,000°, and a plasma state of 3,000,000° (Fig.2). In addition, it was discovered that multiple inner-shell electron excitations were generated, causing an explosive increase in the number of intense X-rays (Fig.3).
Through the results of this research it was shown that atoms can be empty from the inside out by ultra-intense visible lasers. The behavior of produced exotic atoms in an extreme state has come to light, which can provide a clue for understanding extreme states occurring in outer space, such as those in supernova explosions. Moreover, through the understanding that the generation efficiency of x-rays explosively increases in proportion with the power of the laser beam, this opens doors for the utilization of x-rays with the unprecedented intensities reached by the world’s compact femtosecond leading laser facilities, which is expected to lead to industrial application such as more precise non-destructive x-ray testing and construction of new materials.
This research was featured in the September 2, 2015 edition of Nature’s Scientific Report (UK).
Fig. 1 - Scheme of ultra-intense x-ray source generation in relativistic laser-produced plasma. The strong x-rays generated in the Central Zone illuminate the periphery which the laser does not hit (Zone 1~3).
(Bottom left) A photo of JKAREN, KPSI and JAEA’s high power laser equipment.
Fig. 2 - Comparison of experimentally observed spectra and theoretical spectra modeled by Los Alamos Atomic Code.
Fig. 3 - Image displaying the explosive increase in x-ray production as laser beam intensity is strengthened.
To learn more about this research, please view the full research report entitled " Nonlinear increase of X-ray intensities from thin foils irradiated with a 200 TW femtosecond laser " at this page of the Nature's Scientific Report website.
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