X-ray diagnostic calibration with the tabletop laser facility EQUINOX

Area of Science:

• Laser-driven plasma physics
• X-ray spectroscopy
• Detector calibration

Background:

• Broadband X-ray emission from laser-irradiated targets serves as a valuable tool for calibrating X-ray detectors.
• Characterizing X-ray sources is crucial for accurate measurements in various scientific applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the characterization of broadband X-ray emission from the EQUINOX laser facility.
• To demonstrate the application of this X-ray source for calibrating X-ray diodes used in the DMX spectrometer.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the EQUINOX tabletop picosecond laser facility (0.3 J at 800 nm).
• Irradiating solid targets to produce broadband X-ray radiation (100 eV–15 keV).
• Employing diagnostics including pinhole cameras, X-ray diodes, spectrometers, and a CCD camera for spectral and dimensional characterization.

Main Results:

• The X-ray source was routinely monitored for dimensions and flux.
• The X-ray spectrum was measured across a wide energy range (100 eV–15 keV).
• Absolute calibration of spectrometers enabled full characterization of X-ray emission spectra.

Conclusions:

• The characterized X-ray source provides a reliable method for detector calibration.
• The study successfully demonstrated the use of single laser shots for calibrating X-ray diodes within the DMX spectrometer.
• Tunable X-ray spectral properties offer flexibility for various calibration needs.