X-ray microradiography of inertial fusion targets using a laser-produced plasma as an x-ray source

Abstract

Optically opaque and multilayered inertial fusion targets can be characterized by x-ray microradiography. A major factor controlling the resolution of this process is the x-ray source size. We have developed an x-ray radiographic method which uses a laser-produced plasma as an x-ray source. Such a source has several advantages over conventional x-ray sources: very small size (≲100 μm in diameter), a pulsed exposure for a duration of less than 1 ns, and an almost unrestricted choice of target materials, thus enabling a wide range of photon energies available. The resulting radiographs show a higher spatial resolution and contrast as compared to those obtained using a conventional x-ray source. These properties may also be enhanced by optimizing the photon energy utilized and by proper choice of x-ray filters.