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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
10:18
Dynamic Pore-scale Reservoir-condition Imaging of Reaction in Carbonates Using Synchrotron Fast Tomography
Published on: February 21, 2017
High resolution >40 keV x-ray radiography using an edge-on micro-flag backlighter at NIF-ARC
M P Hill1, G J Williams2, A B Zylstra2
1AWE Plc, Aldermaston RG7 4PR, United Kingdom.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|April 6, 2021
Summary
A new X-ray radiography technique uses a thin dysprosium foil and short-pulse lasers to achieve high-resolution, nanosecond-timescale imaging of dense materials. This method enhances contrast and resolution for dynamic material strength studies at the National Ignition Facility.
Area of Science:
- High-energy physics
- Materials science
- X-ray imaging
Background:
- Nanosecond timescale radiography of high-density materials demands bright, high-resolution photon sources.
- Applications include studying dynamic material strength under extreme pressures (Mbar), relevant to geophysics, armor, and fusion energy.
- Existing methods at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) use long-pulse lasers for dynamic strength experiments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present radiographic data and modulation transfer function (MTF) analysis of a novel radiography system.
- To evaluate the system's capability for imaging low-contrast features in high-density materials on a nanosecond timescale.
- To compare the performance of a short-pulse laser-driven backlighter with existing long-pulse systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 5 μm-thin dysprosium foil driven by the NIF Advanced Radiographic Capability (ARC) short-pulse laser (∼2 kJ, 10 ps).
- Employed the foil's thin edge as a bright line-projection source of hard X-rays (∼100 keV effective energy).
- Imaged a multi-component test object at 13.2× magnification onto a filtered image plate detector stack.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated superior contrast for shallow (5 μm amplitude) sinusoidal ripples on gold samples up to 90 μm thick.
- Achieved enhanced spatial and temporal resolution compared to existing NIF long-pulse-driven backlighters.
- Successfully utilized a small fraction of laser energy for radiography.
Conclusions:
- The short-pulse laser-driven dysprosium foil radiography system offers significant improvements in imaging capabilities.
- This technique is well-suited for high-resolution, dynamic material strength measurements under extreme conditions.
- The system provides a more efficient and effective approach for critical research areas at NIF.
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