K-shell x-ray spectroscopy: A reliable probe for stimulated Raman scattering in inertial confinement fusion---

Abstract

Accurate characterization of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) remains a critical challenge in inertial confinement fusion (ICF), as SRS not only scatters laser energy but also generates suprathermal electrons that preheat the fuel and degrade implosion performance. Conventional backscatter diagnostics provide direct measurements of SRS but cannot collect the entire scattered-light signal, limiting the accurate characterization of SRS strength. Using a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium collisional-radiative model with a double-Maxwellian electron distribution, we systematically investigate how suprathermal electrons modify the titanium \textit{K}-shell x-ray emission spectra. The spectra exhibit high sensitivity to the suprathermal-electron fraction at relatively low bulk electron temperatures, making them particularly suitable for diagnosing suprathermal electrons during the early stage of ICF, when even a small suprathermal-electron population can compromise fuel compression. The calculated spectra reproduce experimental measurements from the Nova Laser Facility with good agreement, and the inferred suprathermal-electron fractions show improved consistency with independently measured SRS losses compared with the original spectral analysis by Glenzer~\href{https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.365} {\text{[S. H. Glenzer \textit{et al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{81}, 365(1998)]}}. These results demonstrate that \textit{K}-shell spectroscopy, combined with accurate NLTE collisional-radiative modeling, provides a reliable probe of SRS strength in laser-produced plasmas. Hence, this approach may be extended to spatially resolved diagnosis of SRS strength, offering a promising complement to conventional backscatter diagnostics.