High-luminosity monochromatic x-ray backlighting using an incoherent plasma source to study extremely dense plasmas (invited)

A new diagnostic method for dense plasmas, monochromatic x-ray backlighting, is described. In this method, shadow images of a bright, dense plasma can be obtained with high spatial resolution using monochromatic radiation from a separate plasma, permitting a major reduction in the required backlighting source power. The object plasma is imaged utilizing spherically bent mica crystals as x-ray optical elements. Experimental results, namely images of test objects obtained using x-ray radiation having different photon energies,are presented. Shadow images of exploding Al wire plasmas in the 1s(2)- 1s2p line radiation of He-like Al XIII are also shown. Spatial resolution as fine as 4 mu m is demonstrated. The scheme described here is useful for backlighting extended high density plasmas, and could be a less costly alternative to using x-ray lasers for such purposes. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.