Single-shot Z sub(eff) dense plasma diagnostic through simultaneous refraction and attenuation measurements with a Talbot-Lau x-ray moire deflectometer

The Talbot-Lau x-ray moire deflectometer is a powerful plasma diagnostic capable of delivering simultaneous refraction and attenuation information through the accurate detection of x-ray phase shift and intensity. The diagnostic can provide the index of refraction n = 1- delta +i beta of an object (dense plasma, for example) placed in the x-ray beam by independently measuring both delta and beta , which are directly related to the electron density n sub(e) and the attenuation coefficient mu , respectively. Since delta and beta depend on the effective atomic number Z sub(eff), a map can be obtained from the ratio between phase and absorption images acquired in a single shot. The Talbot-Lau x-ray moire deflectometer and its corresponding data acquisition and processing are briefly described to illustrate how the above is achieved; Z sub(eff) values of test objects within the 4-12 range were obtained experimentally through simultaneous refraction and attenuation measurements. We show that Z sub(eff) mapping of objects does not require previous knowledge of sample length or shape. The determination of Z sub(eff) from refraction and attenuation measurements with moire deflectometry could be of high interest to various domains of high energy density research, such as shocked materials and inertial confinement fusion experiments, as well as material science and nondestructive testing.