X-ray Laser Interferometry for Probing High-density Plasmas

X-ray Laser Interferometry for Probing High-density Plasmas PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11

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Book Description
Collisionally pumped soft x-ray lasers now operate over a wavelength range extending from 4-40 nm. With the recent advances in the development of multilayer mirrors and beamsplitters in the soft x-ray regime, the authors can utilize the unique properties of x-ray lasers to study large, rapidly evolving laser-driven plasmas with high electron densities. Using a neon-like yttrium x-ray laser which operates at a wavelength of 15.5 nm, they have performed a series of x-ray laser interferometry experiments to characterize plasmas relevant to inertial confinement fusion. In this paper the authors describe experiments using a soft x-ray laser interferometer, operated in the Mach-Zehnder configuration, to study CH plasmas and exploding foil targets commonly used for x-ray laser targets. The two-dimensional density profiles obtained from the interferograms allow the authors to validate and benchmark their numerical models used to study the physics of laser-plasma interactions.

X-ray Laser Interferometry for Probing High-density Plasmas

X-ray Laser Interferometry for Probing High-density Plasmas PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11

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Book Description
Collisionally pumped soft x-ray lasers now operate over a wavelength range extending from 4-40 nm. With the recent advances in the development of multilayer mirrors and beamsplitters in the soft x-ray regime, the authors can utilize the unique properties of x-ray lasers to study large, rapidly evolving laser-driven plasmas with high electron densities. Using a neon-like yttrium x-ray laser which operates at a wavelength of 15.5 nm, they have performed a series of x-ray laser interferometry experiments to characterize plasmas relevant to inertial confinement fusion. In this paper the authors describe experiments using a soft x-ray laser interferometer, operated in the Mach-Zehnder configuration, to study CH plasmas and exploding foil targets commonly used for x-ray laser targets. The two-dimensional density profiles obtained from the interferograms allow the authors to validate and benchmark their numerical models used to study the physics of laser-plasma interactions.

Application of Soft X-ray Lasers for Probing High Density Plasmas

Application of Soft X-ray Lasers for Probing High Density Plasmas PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The reliability and characteristics of collisionally pumped soft x-ray lasers make them ideal for a wide variety of plasma diagnostics. These systems now operate over a wavelength range extending from 35 to 400[Angstrom] and have output energies as high as 10 mJ in 150 ps pulses. The beam divergence of these lasers is less than 15 mrad and they have a typical linewidth of[Delta][lambda]/[lambda][approximately] 10[sup -4] making them the brightest xuv sources available. In this paper we will describe the use of x-ray lasers to probe high density plasmas using a variety of diagnostic techniques. Using an x-ray laser and a multilayer mirror imaging system we have studied hydrodynamic imprinting of laser speckle pattern on directly driven thin foils with 1-2[mu]m spatial resolution. Taking advantage of recently developed multilayer beamsplitters we have constructed and used a Mach-Zehnder interferometer operating at 155[Angstrom] to probe 1-3 mm size laser produced plasmas with peak electron densities of 4 x 10[sup 21] cm[sup -3]. A comparison of our results with computer simulations will be presented.

Application of Soft X-ray Laser Interferometry to Study Large-scale-length, High-density Plasmas

Application of Soft X-ray Laser Interferometry to Study Large-scale-length, High-density Plasmas PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 7

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Electron Density Measurement of a Colliding Plasma Using Soft X-ray Laser Interferometry

Electron Density Measurement of a Colliding Plasma Using Soft X-ray Laser Interferometry PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
The understanding of the collision and subsequent interaction of counter-streaming high-density plasmas is important for the design of indirectly-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) hohlraums. We have employed a soft x-ray Mach-Zehnder interferometer, using a Ne- like Y x-ray laser at 155 Å as the probe source, to study interpenetration and stagnation of two colliding plasmas. We observed a peaked density profile at the symmetry axis with a wide stagnation region with width of order 100 [mu]m. We compare the measured density profile with density profiles calculated by the radiation hydrodynamic code LASNEX and a multi-specie fluid code which allows for interpenetration. The measured density profile falls in between the calculated profiles using collisionless and fluid approximations. By using different target materials and irradiation configurations, we can vary the collisionality of the plasma. We hope to use the soft x-ray laser interferometry as a mechanism to validate and benchmark our numerical codes used for the design and analysis of high-energy- density physics experiments.

A Final Report to the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Committee on Project 93-ERP-075

A Final Report to the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Committee on Project 93-ERP-075 PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
This report summarizes the major accomplishments of this three-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Exploratory Research Project (ERP) entitled ''X-ray Laser Propagation and Coherence: Diagnosing Fast-evolving, High-density Laser Plasmas Using X-ray Lasers, '' tracking code 93-ERP-075. The most significant accomplishment of this project is the demonstration of a new laser plasma diagnostic: a soft x-ray Mach-Zehnder interferometer using a neonlike yttrium x-ray laser at 155 Å as the probe source. Detailed comparisons of absolute two-dimensional electron density profiles obtained from soft x-ray laser interferograms and profiles obtained from radiation hydrodynamics codes, such as LASNEX, will allow us to validate and benchmark complex numerical models used to study the physics of laser-plasma interactions. Thus the development of soft x-ray interferometry technique provides a mechanism to probe the deficiencies of the numerical models and is an important tool for, the high-energy density physics and science-based stockpile stewardship programs. The authors have used the soft x-ray interferometer to study a number of high-density, fast evolving, laser-produced plasmas, such as the dynamics of exploding foils and colliding plasmas. They are pursuing the application of the soft x-ray interferometer to study ICF-relevant plasmas, such as capsules and hohlraums, on the Nova 10-beam facility. They have also studied the development of enhanced-coherence, shorter-pulse-duration, and high-brightness x-ray lasers. The utilization of improved x-ray laser sources can ultimately enable them to obtain three-dimensional holographic images of laser-produced plasmas.

Development of XUV-interferometry (155 Å) Using a Soft X-ray Laser

Development of XUV-interferometry (155 Å) Using a Soft X-ray Laser PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 20

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Book Description
Over the past several years the authors have developed a variety of techniques for probing plasmas with x-ray lasers. These have included direct high resolution plasma imaging to quantify laser produced plasma uniformities and moire deflectometry to measure electron density profiles in one-dimension. Although these techniques have been valuable, a need existed for direct two dimensional measurements of electron densities in large high density plasmas. For this reason the authors have worked on developing a xuv interferometer compatible with the harsh environment of laser produced plasmas. This paper describes the design and presents some results showing excellent fringe visibility using the neon-like yttrium x-ray laser operating at 155 Å. The coherence properties of this x-ray laser source were measured using interferometry and are also discussed.

Application of X-rays Lasers as Imaging and Plasma Diagnostics

Application of X-rays Lasers as Imaging and Plasma Diagnostics PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
This report describes utilization of multilayer mirrors and beam splitters to develop x-ray laser interferometry, radiography, and deflectometry to probe high-density laser plasmas.

X-Ray Lasers 1996

X-Ray Lasers 1996 PDF Author: Sune Svanberg
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780750304061
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1162

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Book Description
X-Ray Lasers 1996 provides not only an overview and progress report on this fast moving field, but also important reference material on which future work can be built. Topics covered include collisional x-ray lasers, table-top x-ray lasers, beam optics, x-ray optics, OFI and photo-pumped schemes, capillary schemes, international laser facilities, XUV nonlinear mixing, alternative soft x-ray sources, diagnostics, and applications. The volume is an essential addition to the libraries of researchers in the field.

X-ray Laser Interferometry

X-ray Laser Interferometry PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 9

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Book Description
Collisionally pumped soft x-ray lasers now operate over a wavelength range extending from 4--40 nm. With the recent advances in the development of multilayer mirrors and beamsplitters in the soft x-ray regime, we can utilize the unique properties of x-ray lasers to study large, rapidly evolving laser-driven plasmas with high electron densities. By employing a shorter wavelength x-ray laser, as compared to using conventional optical laser as the probe source, we can access a much higher density regime while reducing refractive effects which limit the spatial resolution and data interpretation. Using a neon-like yttrium x-ray laser which operates at a wavelength of 15.5 mn, we have performed a series of soft x-ray laser interferometry experiments, operated in the skewed Mach-Zehnder configuration, to characterize plasmas relevant to both weapons and inertial confinement fusion. The two-dimensional density profiles obtained from the interferograms allow us to validate and benchmark our numerical models used to study the physics in the high-energy density regime, relevant to both weapons and inertial confinement fusion.

A Picosecond 14.7 Nm X-Ray Laser for Probing Matter Undergoing Rapid Changes

A Picosecond 14.7 Nm X-Ray Laser for Probing Matter Undergoing Rapid Changes PDF Author:
Publisher:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
With laser-driven tabletop x-ray lasers now operating in the efficient saturation regime, the source characteristics of high photon flux, high monochromaticity, picosecond pulse duration, and coherence are well-matched to many applications involving the probing of matter undergoing rapid changes. We give an overview of recent experiments at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Compact Multipulse Terawatt (COMET) laser using the picosecond 14.7 nm x-ray laser as a compact, ultrafast probe for surface analysis and for interferometry of laser-produced plasmas. The plasma density measurements for known laser conditions allow us to reliably and precisely benchmark hydrodynamics codes. In the former case, the x-ray laser ejects photo-electrons, from the valence band or shallow core-levels of the material, and are measured in a time-of-flight analyzer. Therefore, the electronic structure can be studied directly to determine the physical properties of materials undergoing rapid phase changes.