Further development of a single line of sight x-ray framing camera

Abstract

High-speed microchannel plate (MCP) x-ray framing cameras are a well established diagnostic for laser plasma experiments. Each frame acquired with these devices requires a separate image, and with most reasonable x-ray optics, a separate line of sight, causing potential parallax problems. Gated image tubes have a single line of sight capability, but the conventional designs have not been effectively extended to the short gating times of the microstrip MCP camera. A hybrid camera combining image tube and microstrip MCP technology has been under development at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in collaboration with the University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and KENTECH Instruments. Characterization measurements using laser generated plasma x rays are presented. Simulations as a guide to improving this hybrid camera are also presented.