X-ray laser interferometry: A new tool for AGEX

Conference · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:192543

Wan, A S; Moreno, J C; Libby, S B ^[1]

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1. and others

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.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 192543
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--122411; CONF-9510223--2; ON: DE96003770
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DESIGN
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
INTERFEROMETERS
INTERFEROMETRY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
SOFT X RADIATION
X-RAY LASERS
X-RAY SPECTROMETERS
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY