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Simultaneous high-resolution two-dimensional spatial and one-dimensional picosecond streaked x-ray pinhole imaging
1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA. steel1@llnl.gov
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|November 7, 2012
Summary
This study used an x-ray streak camera on the COMET laser to analyze picosecond laser-produced plasmas. Researchers achieved sub-3 picosecond time resolution for copper targets, enabling detailed plasma dynamics measurements.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- X-ray Diagnostics
- Laser-Matter Interaction
Background:
- Understanding picosecond laser-produced plasmas is crucial for inertial confinement fusion and high-intensity laser research.
- Accurate space- and time-resolved measurements are essential for validating plasma models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To perform simultaneous space- and time-resolved measurements of picosecond laser-produced plasmas.
- To evaluate the performance of an x-ray streak camera system for high-irradiance laser experiments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Kentech x-ray streak camera at the LLNL Compact Multipulse Terawatt (COMET) laser facility.
- Employed four x-ray energy channels with broadband filters to monitor copper (Cu) targets.
- Integrated a 10 μm diameter pinhole array for multi-image generation with magnification.
Main Results:
- Achieved a time resolution below 3 picoseconds (ps) using the Cu filter channel.
- Obtained time-resolved x-ray images with spatial resolution better than 13 μm.
- Recorded time histories of Cu targets heated at irradiances ranging from 10^16 to 10^19 W/cm^2.
Conclusions:
- The Kentech x-ray streak camera system provides effective simultaneous space- and time-resolved diagnostics for laser-produced plasmas.
- The achieved sub-3 ps time resolution is suitable for studying ultrafast plasma dynamics.
- The pinhole array configuration allows for detailed spatial analysis of plasma evolution.
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