Characterization of gradient-driven species separation in a multi-component plasma shock*

Gradient-driven species separation between light and heavy atomic species in a multi-species plasma shock has been predicted by fluid theory, and is of interest to the Inertial Confinement Fusion community. This presentation summarizes a series of experimental campaigns that has characterized species separation in a low temperature, high-density collisional plasma shock. These shocks are the result of a snowplow-like interaction between a high-Mach-number plasma jet and a quasi-stagnant plasma. The shock front is diagnosed with multi-chord interferometry, spatially resolved spectroscopy and collisonal radiative modeling to identify separation between constituent species of argon, nitrogen, and aluminum in a manner consistent with fluid theory. These measurements expand upon previous experiments on binary-ion plasams, and will aid in the validation of computational models relevant to transport in fusion and astrophysical plasmas.