Gigagauss magnetic field measurements using Zeeman broadening of Ne-like transitions in highly charged ions

The measurement of gigagauss magnetic fields using Zeeman broadening of Ne-like transitions in highly charged ions in high energy density plasmas is investigated. The transition in Xe44+ from the (2p(5) (1/2)3d(3/2))(J=1) level to the (2p(6))(J=0) ground level, designated 3C and having 4.858 keV transition energy, is considered in detail. Ne-like Xe spectra were previously recorded from compressed Xe-filled capsules, and the plasma conditions were determined from spectral line ratios and atomic code modeling. Using the Paschen-Back expression for Zeeman broadening produced by strong magnetic fields and the plasma conditions from the compressed Xe-filled capsule experiments to estimate the competing Stark, Doppler, and turbulence broadenings, it is found that >0.34 GG fields can be determined from spectra recorded by a high-resolution spectrometer having 1 eV resolution (5000 resolving power). By scaling the plasma conditions to higher temperatures and densities, the minimum detectable magnetic field is determined for Zeeman broadening of the 3C transition in Ne-like ions up to U82+. Recently developed transmission-crystal spectrometers, employing a cylindrically bent crystal in the Cauchois configuration, have sufficient resolution to determine gigagauss magnetic fields from Zeeman broadening of Ne-like transitions in the 4-18 keV range in Xe44+ to U82+. Published under license by AIP Publishing.