Search

We detail results of an experiment performed at the Ligne d'Intégration Laser facility aimed at studying supersonic and diffusive radiation front propagation in low-density SiO2 aerogel (20 and 40 mg/cm3) enclosed in a gold tube, driven by thermal emission from a laser-heated spherical gold cavity. The evolution of the front is studied continuously by measuring its self-emission with a 1D (one-dimensional) time-resolved soft x-ray imager. Measurement is performed along (through a 200- μm-wide observation slit) and at the exit of the tube giving access to the dynamics and the curvature of the front. Experimental results are then compared successfully to results from the 3D (three-dimensional) radiation hydrodynamics code TROLL, which shows that if continuous tracking of the front position is accessible with this experimental scheme, measurement of its maximum radiation temperature is on the contrary affected by radiation closure of the observation slit. 3D simulations also indicate that this effect can even be worsened if one includes pointing errors of the x-ray imager. Radiation temperature along the tube was then inferred by combining results from the imager to a wall shock breakout time measurement using a velocity interferometer system for any reflector and results from a broadband x-ray spectrometer used to determine the temperature at the exit of the tube. A decrease in the radiation temperature along the tube is observed, the decrease being more important for the higher SiO2 aerogel density.

Implosion experiments of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target on the laser megajoule (LMJ) and the National Ignition Facility require, for certain designs, a precise timing coalescence of fo...

Multilayer mirrors with enhanced bandwidth were developed with special performances for dense plasma diagnostics and mainly for high spatial resolution x-ray imaging. The multilayer coatings are designed to provide broadband x-ray reflectance at low grazing incidence angles. They are deposited onto toroidal mirror substrates. Our research is directed at the development of non-periodic (depth graded) W∕Si multilayer specifically designed for use in the 1 to 30 keV photon energy band. First, we present a study for a 5 to 22 keV x-ray spectral window at 0.45° grazing angle. The goal is to obtain a high and constant reflectivity. Second, we have modeled a broadband mirror coating for harder x-rays in the range from 10 to 30 keV, with a non-periodic structure containing 300 W∕SiC layers with periods in the range from 0.8 to 4 nm, designed for 0.35° grazing incidence angle.