X-ray Line Polarization of Mo X-pinch Radiation*

Polarization of x-ray radiation is a powerful tool in the study of atomic processes in astrophysical and high-energy-density (HED) plasmas, all of which can be effectively studied through pulse-powered laboratory plasmas. Furthermore, x-ray polarization can be a formidable diagnostic in the detection of non-Maxwellian, suprathermal electrons, which have been shown to induce linearly polarized spectral emission through collisional processes with ions. In this talk, we explore the polarization of Mo radiation from HED high-Z laboratory plasmas on the Zebra Generator at the UNR Nevada Terawatt Facility. We investigate the polarization of Mo (Z $=$ 42) plasma radiation through dual $\alpha $-quartz crystal (2d $=$ 6.67 {\AA}) spectropolarimetry with horizontal and vertical spatial resolution. In particular, polarization is evaluated through a comparative analysis of relative line intensities observed over a range of Ne-like Mo transitions. This is the first comprehensive study of x-ray line polarization in Mo HED plasmas.