Physics

Electron density

Electron scattering

Electron

Free-electron laser

Laser

Composite number

Optics

Carbon fibers

Atomic physics

Composite material

Nuclear physics

Scattering

Materials science

Ionization

Warm dense matter

Thomson scattering

X-ray

Quantum mechanics

Plasma

Free electron model

Computational physics

Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

We discuss the possibility of obtaining highly precise measurements of the ionization potential depression in dense plasmas with spectrally resolved x-ray scattering, while simultaneously determining the electron temperature and the free electron density. A proof-of-principle experiment at the Linac Coherent Light Source, probing isochorically heated carbon samples, demonstrates the capabilities of this method and motivates future experiments at x-ray free electron laser facilities.

Characterizing the ionization potential depression in dense carbon plasmas with high-precision spectrally resolved x-ray scattering