Single-Shot X-rays
Single-Shot X-ray Imaging of
Inertial Fusion Energy Materials
We utilize single, ultrafast x-ray pulses from an x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) to image mock fusion capsules while they are compressed by high-power laser systems. These dynamic experiments produce x-ray phase-contrast images (XPCI) that contain density information from the shocked sample.
We employ a series of advanced phase retrieval algorithms to extract phase information from the XPCI images captured at the XFEL. This phase recovery process allows us to directly measure the integrated density distribution resulting from the interaction between a laser shockwave and ablator material, such as a hollow glass void or bubble. Understanding the density distribution is essential for mitigating hydrodynamic instabilities, thus facilitating significant advancements in inertial fusion energy (IFE) experiments and the computational modeling of bubble-shock interactions.
This research holds relevance for applications in inertial confinement fusion energy and is funded by the Department of Energy through SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
Meeting times: Every other Friday, 9:30 am (Zoom and N269 ESC).
Lead Student: Daniel Hodge.
Funding: Department of Energy – Fusion Energy Sciences.
