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Oxygen Opacity Measurements at High-Energy-Density Conditions

J. E. Bailey1,*, D. C. Mayes2, G. P. Loisel1, T. Nagayama1, D. Aberg3, C. Blancard4,5, J. Colgan6, Ph. Cossé4,5, G. S. Dunham1 et al.

G. Faussurier4,5, C. J. Fontes6, F. Gilleron4,5, I. Golovkin7, T. A. Gomez8, M. F. Gu7, S. B. Hansen1, H. Huang9, C. A. Iglesias3, C. Monton9, J.-C. Pain4,5, R. Santana9, and B. W. Wilson3

  • *Contact author: jebaile@sandia.gov
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 205101 – Published 12 November, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/n2k6-358d

Abstract

We present the first benchmark measurements of oxygen opacity at high-energy-density, crucial for understanding stellar interiors. A 3–5−μm thick SiO2 sample was heated using a Z facility x-ray source, and opacity was measured in the 5–19.5  Å range with multiple spectrometers. The electron temperature and density inferred from Si K-shell spectra were 148±4  eV and 8.6±1.4× 1021  cm−3, respectively. Six experiments showed opacity reproducibility within ±15% and 5%–25% opacity uncertainty. Measured oxygen opacity and seven different opacity models exhibit extraordinary overall agreement. Discrepancies near the H-like photon ionization threshold and in certain spectral lines suggest the need for model refinements.

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synopsis

Measuring the Sun’s Opacity

Published 12 November, 2025

Experiments with oxygen plasma at extreme densities and temperatures give new transparency to our picture of the Sun’s interior.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 205101– Published 12 November, 2025
  • Received 22 July 2025
  • Accepted 25 September 2025
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