Measurement of high-dynamic range x-ray Thomson scattering spectra for the characterization of nano-plasmas at LCLS

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960502· OSTI ID:22596555

Gorkhover, T. ^[1]; Bachmann, B.; Hau-Riege, S. P.; Pardini, T.; Döppner, T. ^[2]; Bucher, M. ^[1]; Carron, S. ^[3]; Coffee, R. N.; Fletcher, L. B.; Gamboa, E. J.; Glenzer, S. H.; Göde, S.; Krzywinski, J.; O’Grady, C. P.; Osipov, T.; Swiggers, M. ^[1]; Drake, R. P. ^[4]; Ferguson, K. R. ^[1]; Kraus, D. ^[5]; others, and

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1. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025 (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
3. California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California 91360 (United States)
4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)
5. University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

Atomic clusters can serve as ideal model systems for exploring ultrafast (∼100 fs) laser-driven ionization dynamics of dense matter on the nanometer scale. Resonant absorption of optical laser pulses enables heating to temperatures on the order of 1 keV at near solid density conditions. To date, direct probing of transient states of such nano-plasmas was limited to coherent x-ray imaging. Here we present the first measurement of spectrally resolved incoherent x-ray scattering from clusters, enabling measurements of transient temperature, densities, and ionization. Single shot x-ray Thomson scattering signals were recorded at 120 Hz using a crystal spectrometer in combination with a single-photon counting and energy-dispersive pnCCD. A precise pump laser collimation scheme enabled recording near background-free scattering spectra from Ar clusters with an unprecedented dynamic range of more than 3 orders of magnitude. Such measurements are important for understanding collective effects in laser-matter interactions on femtosecond time scales, opening new routes for the development of schemes for their ultrafast control.

• OSTI ID: 22596555
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 87, Issue 11; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION
ATOMIC CLUSTERS
CRYSTALS
DENSITY
HEATING
IMAGES
IONIZATION
KEV RANGE 01-10
LASERS
MATTER
PHOTONS
PLASMA
SIGNALS
SPECTROMETERS
THOMSON SCATTERING
X RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY SPECTRA