The incoherent scattering of radiation from a high temperature plasma

Abstract

The majority of theoretical work on the scattering of radiation from plasma is restricted to the low temperature regime where v/c<<1. Nevertheless it is common practice to apply the results of these theories to plasmas for which v/c/ approximately 0.05. (Te> approximately 600 eV). The theory of incoherent scattering which includes high temperature correction terms to first order in (v/c) is reviewed below. It is shown that application of the low temperature theory in the measurement of the electron temperature can lead to significant overestimate of this quantity. Typically for 90 degrees scattering at high temperatures (and for measurements on the short wavelength side of the scattered spectrum) Te(approx.)=Te(corr.) (1+6*10-3Te12/(eV)).