Validation of a laser driven plasma X-ray microfocus source for high resolution radiography imaging

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Current hard X-ray sources (synchrotrons, X-FELs) are large and complex, limiting widespread use.
• Compact, laser-driven X-ray sources offer a promising alternative for advanced applications.
• These sources provide small source size and spatial coherence suitable for high-resolution imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a compact laser-driven X-ray microfocus source for high-resolution radiography.
• To describe and characterize the properties of this novel laser-plasma X-ray source.
• To assess the source's performance in comparison to existing compact microfocus X-ray sources.

Main Methods:

• Development and construction of a compact laser-driven X-ray microfocus source at L2A2.
• Characterization of the laser-plasma X-ray source's stability and properties.
• High-resolution radiography imaging using known geometry masks and modulation transfer function analysis.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated improved stability of the laser-plasma X-ray source.
• Achieved high-contrast and high-resolution images in radiography.
• Quantified imaging performance using modulation transfer function analysis.

Conclusions:

• The compact laser-driven X-ray microfocus source is validated for high-resolution radiography.
• This technology presents a viable and accessible alternative to large-scale X-ray facilities.
• The source shows potential for expanding the application of advanced X-ray imaging techniques.