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Compact Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope mirrors for imaging laser-plasma x-ray emission.
1Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA. fredm@lle.rochester.edu
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|November 7, 2012
Summary
Compact Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope mirrors were developed for imaging laser-plasma X-ray emission, achieving ~5 μm resolution. These Ir-coated mirrors offer a 2-8 keV energy range and can be arranged for multi-image capture with framing cameras.
Area of Science:
- Optics and X-ray instrumentation
- Plasma physics
- Materials science
Background:
- Laser-plasma interactions generate complex X-ray emissions.
- High-resolution imaging is crucial for diagnosing these phenomena.
- Existing X-ray microscopy techniques have limitations in speed and resolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize compact Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) microscope mirror components.
- To enable high-resolution imaging of laser-plasma X-ray emission.
- To assess the performance of Ir-coated mirrors for X-ray microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Manufacturing and coating of compact KB mirror pairs (14 × 7 × 9 mm).
- Coating with Iridium (Ir) for X-ray reflectivity.
- Testing mirror resolution and performance at grazing incidence angles (0.7°).
- Evaluating different mirror arrangements for multi-image acquisition.
Main Results:
- Achieved a best spatial resolution of approximately 5 μm.
- Ir-coated mirrors provide a useful energy range of 2-8 keV.
- Circular arrangement allows for 16 images with a custom framing camera.
- Alternative arrangement is suitable for a four-strip framing camera.
Conclusions:
- Compact KB mirrors are effective for high-resolution X-ray imaging of laser-produced plasmas.
- The developed mirror components offer a versatile solution for X-ray diagnostic needs.
- The mirror design supports advanced multi-image acquisition strategies for plasma research.
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