THE EFFECT OF AN AMBIENT RADIATION-FIELD ON THE STATE OF IONIZATION IN A LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA

The effect of an ambient black-body radiation field on the state of io nization of open L- and M-shell ions in a plasma is investigated for r adiation fields characteristic of laser-irradiated hohlraums. It is fo und that for densities of 0.001 g cm(-3) the ionization is dominated b y the radiation field over a wide range of electron temperatures. Alth ough the effect of the radiation field is still evident at higher dens ities (0.1 g cm(-3)) the increased collision rates make its effect les s pronounced, especially at the higher electron temperatures considere d.