A note on the contribution of multi-photon processes to radiative opacity

Abstract

Recently, Bailey et al. performed iron opacity measurements on the Z machine at Sandia National Laboratory in conditions close to the ones of the base of the convective zone of the Sun. Such experiments have raised questions about the physical models commonly used in opacity codes. To understand the discrepancy between experiment and theory, More et al. investigated the role of two-photon processes. In the present work we show, by a simple estimate and using hydrogenic formulas, that due to the intensity of the backlight radiation seen by the sample, such processes are likely to play an important role only for highly excited states.