A spectroscopic investigation of multi-ion-species plasma shock structures

An experimental campaign aims to resolve the structure of shock layers formed during the stagnation of railgun-generated multi-ion-species plasma jets. Recently-published results indicate that these shock structures are collisional, with barodiffusion dominating the diffusive mass flux of light and heavy ions within the shock front. We report spatially-resolved spectroscopy measurements of ionization state and ion species number density within the ion shock layer, addressing their significance with regards to species separation and the role of ionization and non-LTE effects on shock formation and structure. We expect that these results will provide validation for computational models of plasma shocks present in astrophysical plasmas and inertial confinement fusion implosions.