Characterization of a 1D-imaging high-energy x-ray backlighter driven by the National Ignition Facility Advanced Radiographic Capability laser
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Aldermaston (United Kingdom)
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Aldermaston (United Kingdom)
Plastic deformation of samples compressed to Mbar pressures at high strain rates at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) forms the basis of ongoing material strength experiments in conditions relevant to meteor impacts, geophysics, armor development, and inertial confinement fusion. Hard x-ray radiography is the primary means of measuring the evolution of these samples, typically employing a slit-collimated high-Z microdot driven by the NIF laser to generate >40 keV x rays [E. Gumbrell et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 89, 10G118 (2018) and C. M. Huntington et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 89, 10G121 (2018)]. Alternatively, a dysprosium “micro-flag” target driven by the Advanced Radiographic Capability laser (∼2 kJ, 10 ps) can deliver significantly higher spatiotemporal resolution [M. P. Hill et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 92, 033535 (2021)], especially in high-opacity samples. Initial experiments revealed problematic brightness and spectral gradients from this source, but by radiographing a set of diamond-turned, 105 µm-thick Pb test objects and supported by simulations using the 3D Monte Carlo code GEANT4, these geometry-dependent gradients across the field of view are quantified and mitigation strategies are assessed. In addition to significantly enhancing the modulation transfer function compared to the existing system, image stacking from multiple layers of image plate is shown to almost double the signal to noise ratio that will reduce uncertainties in future dynamic strength experiments.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- OSTI ID:
- 1891735
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1891355
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-836070; 1055201; TRN: US2310409
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 93, Issue 10; ISSN 0034-6748
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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