Monochromatic x-ray imaging with bent crystals for laser fusion research

Monochromatic x-ray imaging with toroidally bent crystals has been applied to investigate critical issues in laser fusion research in collaboration with Jena University [for example, I. Uschmann et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 66, 734 (1995)]. Described in this article is the study on x-ray diagnostics to provide simultaneously time, space, and spectral resolutions for the laser fusion experiments by the use of toroidally bent crystals. A monochromatic x-ray imager was developed, which consists of two sets of identical five bent crystals and a fast x-ray framing camera. The attained spatial resolution of 6 μm, time resolution of 34 ps, and spectral resolution of 10 eV are high enough to observe temporal evaluation and temperature distribution of the laser fusion hot core. In addition, a new x-ray imager with bent crystal was developed to investigate hydrodynamic instabilities occurring in laser-driven planer targets as one of the most critical issues in laser fusion research. The imager was so designed as to match the experiments using rather thick, massive targets irradiated under the same condition as in the high-gain experiments. Configuration and specifications of the imager are presented.