Two-dimensional imaging of radiation temperature in dynamic Hohlraums on Z

Abstract

We present a technique for experimentally measuring two-dimensional radiation temperatures in dynamic Hohlraums on Z. In principle the technique can be applied to any radiation source. Total radiated power from the source is measured by normalizing the area under an x-ray diode signal to energy yield measured by a bolometer. The radiated power as a function of time, which is just the normalized x-ray diode signal, can then be used to normalize gated microchannel plate x-ray pinhole camera images. The procedure is most accurate when the gated x-ray pinhole camera has the same filter as the x-ray diode and when the filter is transmissive near the peak of the Planckian radiation temperature being measured. We present results for two-dimensional radiation temperatures as a function of time for dynamic Hohlraum experiments on Z. In these experiments a z pinch consisting of nested tungsten wire arrays driven by the 20 MA, 100 ns Z accelerator implodes onto cylindrical foam located on axis. X-ray diodes and bolometers located along the axis measure the power radiated along the pinch axis. Pinhole-imaged time-resolved microchannel plate framing cameras located on axis measure the spatial distribution of this radiation. Results from the analysis of many shots taken on Z show that a symmetrical strongly radiating shock wave is launched in the foam. The shock wave stagnates to less than 1 mm diameter with radiation temperatures exceeding 300 eV. Applications for this source include driving inertial confinement fusion capsules within the dynamic Hohlraum and weapons physics experiments that use the dynamic Hohlraum as a radiation source.