On degenerate plasma diagnostics based on γ-ray measurement

The potentiality of electron degeneracy diagnostics based on γ-ray measurement is discussed. For this purpose, the nuclear reactions D (α, γ)6Li and T (α, γ)7Li are considered. These reactions are induced in DT plasma by fusion-born energetic α-particles and proceed through the excited nuclei 6Li* and 7Li* emitting monochromatic γ-quanta with 2.186-MeV and 0.478-MeV energies, respectively, in their decay to the ground state. If the plasma is being highly compressed and the electrons are in degenerate state, then the stopping range of the α-particles is lengthened compared with the case of non-degenerate electron plasma. As a result, the probability that a fusion-born α-particle will undergo D (α, γ) or T(α, γ) reaction during slowing down would be enhanced. In this paper we will discuss the feasibility of detecting the 2.186-MeV and 0.478-MeV γ-ray in ICF environment.