Laboratory simulation of photoionized plasma among astronomical compact objects

ORAL

Abstract

X-ray line emission with several-keV of photon energy was observed from photoionized accreting clouds, for example CYGNUS X-3 and VELA X-1, those are exposed by hard x-ray continuum from the compact objects, such as neutron stars, black holes, or white dwarfs, although accreting clouds are thermally cold. The x-ray continuum-induced line emission gives a good insight to the accreting clouds. We will present a novel laboratory simulation of the photoionized plasma under well-characterized conditions by using high-power laser facility. Blackbody radiator with 500-eV of temperature, as a miniature of a hot compact object, was created.Silicon (Si) plasma with 30-eV of electron temperature was produced in the vicinity of the 0.5-keV blackbody radiator. Line emissions of lithium- and helium-like Si ions was clearly observed around 2-keV of photon-energy from the thermally cold Si plasma, this result is hardly interpreted without consideration of the photoionization. Atomic kinetics code reveals importance of inner-shell ionization directly caused by incoming hard x-rays.

Authors

  • Feilu Wang

    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Shinsuke Fujioka

    • Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University
    • ILE, Osaka U.
  • Norimasa Yamamoto

    • Osaka University
  • David Salzmann

    • Osaka University
  • Yutong Li

    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Yong-Joo Rhee

    • Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
  • Hiroaki Nishimura

    • Osaka University
  • Hideaki Takabe

    • Osaka University
  • Kunioki Mima

    • Osaka University