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At least 235 records · Page 13

Fast image acquisition system and method using pulsed light illumination and sample scanning to capture optical micrographs with sub-micron features

An optical inspection system for detecting sub-micron features on a sample component. The system may have a controller, a camera responsive to the controller for capturing images, an objective lens able to capture submicron scale features on the sample component, and a pulsed light source. The pulsed light source may be used to generate light pulses. The camera may be controlled to acquire images, using the objective lens, only while the pulsed light source is providing light pulses illuminating a portion of the sample component. Relative movement between the sample component and the objective lens is provided to enable at least one of a desired subportion or an entirety of the sample component to be scanned with the camera.

Yoo, Jae Hyuck↗

Hunting for gamma-ray emission from fast radio bursts

Context. Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are a recently discovered class of GHz-band, ms-duration, Jansky-level-flux astrophysical transients. Although hundreds of models have been proposed so far for FRB progenitors (the most popular ones involve magnetars), their physical origin and emission mechanism are still a mystery, making them one of the most compelling problems in astrophysics. Aims. FRBs are caused by astrophysical processes that are not yet understood. Exploring their high-energy counterpart is crucial for constraining their origin and emission mechanism. Methods. Thanks to more than 13 years of gamma-ray data collected by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and to more than 1000 FRB events (from 561 non-repeating and 22 repeating sources), one of the largest samples created thus far, we performed the largest and deepest search for high-energy emission from FRB sources to date (between 100 MeV and 1 TeV). In addition to the analysis involving individual FRB events on different timescales (from a few seconds up to several years), we performed, for the first time, a stacking analysis on the full sample of FRB events as well as a search for triplet photons in coincidence with the radio event. Results. We do not detect significant emission, reporting the most stringent constraints, on short timescales, for the FRB-like emission from SGR 1935+2154 with E γ <10 41 erg, corresponding to a factor η < 10 7 with respect to the emitted radio energy. Similarly, for the stacked signal of steady emission from all repeaters, the obtained upper limit (UL) on the FRBs luminosity (L γ < 1.6 × 10 43 erg s -1 is more than two orders of magnitude lower than those derived from the individual sources. Finally, no individual or triplet photons have been significantly associated with FRB events. We derived the LAT ms-sensitivity to be ~0.3 ph cm -2 s -1 and constrained the gamma-ray energy E γ,δT = 1 ms ≲ 10 47 (D L /150 Mpc) 2 erg, ruling out a gamma-ray-to-radio energy ratio greater than 10 9 on ms timescales. Conclusions. The results reported here represent the most stringent UL reported so far on the high-energy emission from FRBs on short and long time scales, as well as on cumulative emission and individual photon searches. While the origin of FRBs is still unclear, our work provides important constraints for FRB modelling, which might shed light on their emission mechanism.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

CADIS and FW-CADIS Variance Reduction in Gamma Transport for Predicting Prompt Forensics Signatures

The goal of prompt nuclear forensics is to determine the characteristics of a nuclear detonation based on the signatures available almost immediately after the explosion. An important characteristic is the reaction time history (RTH), a measure of the device’s rate of neutron multiplication. The RTH can be estimated by observation of the gamma radiation emitted from the detonation, which can be detected directly or observed indirectly as Teller light. Gamma transport simulations used to predict these radiation fields are often modeled stochastically using the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code, which can be a computationally demanding task due to the number of particle histories needed to achieve statistical convergence. In an attempt to improve the efficiency of these calculations, we evaluate two variance reduction techniques: Consistent Adjoint-Driven Importance Sampling (CADIS) and Forward-Weighted Consistent Adjoint-Driven Importance Sampling (FW-CADIS). These methods use a deterministically calculated adjoint flux to create weight windows and source biasing that guide MCNP sampling. We study the utility of CADIS and FW-CADIS for their use in MCNP gamma transport for nuclear forensics prediction simulations. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that both CADIS and FW-CADIS improve the accuracy for forensics-focused simulations, with CADIS being most beneficial in direct detection and FW-CADIS being ideal for computing a global Teller light source.

CADIS↗

FLASH pilot survey: detections of associated 21 cm H i absorption in GAMA galaxies at 0.42 < z < 1.00

ABSTRACT We present the results of a search for associated 21 cm H i absorption at redshift 0.42 < z < 1.00 in radio-loud galaxies from three Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey fields. These observations were carried out as part of a pilot survey for the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) First Large Absorption Survey in H i (FLASH). From a sample of 326 radio sources with 855.5 MHz peak flux density above 10 mJy, we detected two associated H i absorption systems, in SDSS J090331+010847 at z = 0.522 and SDSS J113622+004852 at z = 0.563. Both galaxies are massive (stellar mass $\gt 10^{11}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$) and have optical spectra characteristic of luminous red galaxies, though spectral energy distribution fitting implies that SDSS J113622+004852 contains a dust-obscured starburst with star formation rate ∼69 M⊙ yr−1. The H i absorption lines have a high optical depth, with τpk of 1.77 ± 0.16 for SDSS J090331+010847 (the highest value for any z > 0.1 associated system found to date) and 0.14 ± 0.01 for SDSS J113622+004852. In the redshift range probed by our ASKAP observations, the detection rate for associated H i absorption lines (with τpk > 0.1 and at least 3σ significance) is $2.9_{-2.6}^{+9.7}$ per cent. Although the current sample is small, this rate is consistent with a trend seen in other studies for a lower detection rate of associated 21 cm H i absorption systems at higher redshift. We also searched for OH absorption lines at 0.67 < z < 1.34, but no detection was made in the 145 radio sources searched.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Little vertical and circumferential variations in stem xylem water Δ 2 H and Δ 18 O in three tree species

Vertical and circumferential patterns of xylem water isotope signatures in large trees are rarely characterized but may influence interpretation of water source investigations and soil/xylem water isotope offsets. Furthermore, to examine vertical and circumferential variation in xylem water δ 2 H and δ 18 O, we collected xylem tissue at 5 heights (0, 1, 4, 7 and 10 m) from three replicate trees of three species with contrasting xylem anatomy, two angiosperms (Liquidambar styraciflua and Quercus nigra) and one gymnosperm (Pinus taeda). Concurrently, we also determined δ 2 H and δ 18 O of groundwater, soil water, and recent precipitation. On a different day, we collected circumferential samples at 1 m from the same trees to test for sectorality effects. Water from stem and soil samples were cryogenically extracted and analyzed for δ 2 H and δ 18 O. Mean xylem water δ 2 H and δ 18 O were significantly different between species, both vertically and circumferentially. We did not find significant (p = 0.05) systematic variation in δ 2 H or δ 18 O with height. We found no significant evidence for sectorality effects on δ 2 H, δ 18 O. Variances of vertical synoptic xylem water δ 2 H or δ 18 O were similar between species, 7.2–10.4‰ for δ 2 H and 0.58–0.81‰ for δ 18 O. Circumferential variances were also similar between species, 4.0–6.0 for δ 2 H and 0.37–0.44 for δ 18 O. A mixing model showed that sweetgum, water oak and loblolly pine, were drawing most of their water from deep soil from 45 to 190 cm (84.7, 68.4 and 53.2%, respectively) however, soil water-excess values indicate δ 2 H fractionation effects on these estimates. Dual isotope mixing model evaluation with single and multiple sample configurations showed that source water estimates were not affected by within tree variability of xylem water signatures. Xylem water δ 2 H and δ 18 O variability with height or circumference, was 3.2 and 2.7 times less than between tree variation because of transient temporal and spatial processes and is, therefore, not likely to affect interpretations of water sourcing in these three species.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

3D diffractive imaging of nanoparticle ensembles using an x-ray laser

Single particle imaging at x-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) has the potential to determine the structure and dynamics of single biomolecules at room temperature. Two major hurdles have prevented this potential from being reached, namely, the collection of sufficient high-quality diffraction patterns and robust computational purification to overcome structural heterogeneity. We report the breaking of both of these barriers using gold nanoparticle test samples, recording around 10 million diffraction patterns at the European XFEL and structurally and orientationally sorting the patterns to obtain better than 3-nm-resolution 3D reconstructions for each of four samples. With these new developments, integrating advancements in x-ray sources, fast-framing detectors, efficient sample delivery, and data analysis algorithms, we illuminate the path towards sub-nanometer biomolecular imaging. The methods developed here can also be extended to characterize ensembles that are inherently diverse to obtain their full structural landscape.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Development of an L-Edge X-ray Absorbance Spectrometer for Monitoring Dissolver Solutions in H-Canyon

Savannah River National Laboratory has developed a monitor to measure plutonium and uranium concentrations in solutions of dissolved nuclear fuel. The monitor will be installed in the sample aisle location for the 6.3D Dissolver in the Savannah River Site’s H-Canyon and used in support of the electrolytic dissolution such as Fast Critical Assembly fuel. The monitor is based on the atomic absorbance of x-rays. Elements are differentiated by the appearance of absorbance features at specific energies of the x-ray spectrum that correspond to L-edge transitions of inner core electrons. Hence, the technique is called L-Edge X-Ray Absorbance Spectroscopy (L-XRAS). The technique is suitable for nuclear fuel processing due to its relative insensitivity to other components of the dissolver solution, such as nitric acid, transition metals (Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn) such as those from stainless steel, particulates, and catalysts and additives. The instrumentation consists of a commercially available x-ray source and detector, a sample cell designed to interface with the airlift sampler associated with H-Canyon Tank 6.3D, and a stainless steel enclosure. SRNL wrote instrument control software and developed chemometric models to interpret x-ray intensity spectra and estimate analyte concentrations and uncertainties in real time.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Characterization of mechanical properties and deformation behavior of highly irradiated 316L stainless steel from target modules at the Spallation Neutron Source using digital image correlation analysis

Tensile specimens with irradiation doses ranging from approximately 0.7 to 7.6 displacements per atom (dpa) were fabricated from 316L samples removed from Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) target vessels after service. Tensile tests were performed in conjunction with digital image correlation (DIC) characterization, which permitted detailed analysis of the strain distribution and deformation behavior of the specimen gauge sections during testing. The results show, while considerable hardening (500–700 MPa increase in yield strength) occurred in the 316L SNS target material with increasing dose, appreciable ductility (19–23% total elongation) remained in the material after irradiation to 7.6 dpa in the mixed neutron/proton environment of the SNS target region. The DIC data showed the strain distribution and deformation behavior of all irradiated specimens were nonuniform during testing. Strain localization in the form of deformation bands or “hotspots” was observed during testing, and in some specimens, the bands propagated as deformation waves along the gauge section. The “traveling wave” deformation behavior affected the amount of elongation each specimen achieved, and the scatter in the elongation data was attributed to the large variation in deformation behavior observed among different specimens. Bands of localized strain, or deformation bands, oriented at specific angles were observed in two-dimensional plots of the strain distribution in the gauge sections of some specimens. Overall, this paper describes the experimental procedures, results, and deformation behavior of tensile specimens from SNS targets after service and illustrates the value of DIC characterization during tensile testing of irradiated materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The dependence of tungsten fuzz layer thickness and porosity on tungsten deposition rate and helium ion fluence

Abstract Fuzz formation on a heated tungsten surface in the presence of a helium-containing plasma and tungsten deposition source was investigated. Tungsten samples were exposed at 1123 K to pure helium plasma with ion incident energy of 76 eV, W/He ion flux ratio of ∼ 0.4 × 10 − 4 , and varied helium ion fluence from 0.18 to 3.4 × 10 26 m −2 . Fuzz thickness was measured by cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy to increase from 0.22 to 15 µ m with increasing helium ion fluence. No indication of saturation in fuzz thickness at high fluence was observed, in contrast to fuzz produced on a tungsten surface without tungsten deposition. Additional tungsten samples were exposed at 1123 K to pure helium plasma with ion incident energy of 76 eV, helium ion fluence of ∼ 3.4 × 10 26 m −2 , and varied W/He ion flux ratio from 0.26 to 3.0 × 10 − 4 . Fuzz thickness increased from 7.5 to 120 µ m with increasing W/He ion ratio. A final sample exposed at 1123 K to a mixed helium-deuterium plasma with ion incident energy of 76 eV, helium ion fluence of 0.18 × 10 26 m −2 , and W/He ion flux ratio of 2.2 × 10 − 4 developed nearly identical fuzz structures to that developed in a pure He plasma. As a function of deposited tungsten fluence, all results were found to trace out a single layer-growth curve given by a power law relation, indicating that fuzz thickness is independent of the W/He ion flux ratio in the range investigated and independent of any deuterium present in the plasma. As a result, for tungsten plasma facing walls in magnetic fusion devices at 1000–2000 K with 10 −4 W/He ion flux ratio, fuzz with thicknesses greater than hundreds of microns may form in as little as 10 4 s (in the absence of ELM-induced erosion or annealing), and may more significantly affect its thermophysical properties than fuzz generated without a tungsten deposition source.

Physics↗

Short-Term Load Forecasting Considering EV Charging Loads with Prediction Interval Evaluation

Short-term load forecasting plays a critical role in power system planning and operation. Along with the electrification of various loads, electricity demands are becoming increasingly hard to predict. Notably, the recent rise in electric vehicles (EVs) has further contributed to this unpredictability. To address this issue, this paper proposes a probabilistic load forecasting strategy utilizing Gaussian process regression, structured in a day-ahead manner. While many works focus on deterministic prediction, probabilistic forecasting offers additional insights into variability and uncertainty, enabling more flexible and reliable operation for power systems. To enhance the accuracy of the load forecasting model, the inputs include features related to EV charging habits as well as commonly used weather information. The load forecasting results are evaluated using various metrics, including conventional ones that assess the accuracy of point forecasts, as well as additional metrics that test the reliability of prediction intervals. The proposed load forecasting method is finally tested on real residential power consumption data and EV charging data sampled from real-world sources. The results prove that the new features can greatly improve the performance of the load forecasting method.

electrical vehicle↗

Managing Sn-Supply to Tune Surface Characteristics of Vapor-Diffusion Coating of Nb₃Sn

Nb₃Sn promises better RF performance (Q and E_{acc}) than niobium at any given temperature because of superior superconducting properties. Nb₃Sn-coated SRF cavities are now produced routinely by growing a few microns thick Nb₃Sn films inside Nb cavities via the tin vapor diffusion technique. Sn evaporation and consumption during the growth process notably affect the quality of the coating. Aiming at favorable surface characteristics that could enhance the RF performance, many coatings were produced by varying Sn sources and temperature profiles. Coupon samples were examined using different material characterization techniques, and a selected few sets of coating parameters were used to coat 1.3 GHz single-cell cavities for RF testing. The Sn supply’s careful tuning is essential to manage the microstructure, roughness, and overall surface characteristics of the coating. We summarize the material analysis of witness samples and discuss the performance of several Nb₃Sn-coated single-cell cavities linked to Sn-source characteristics and observed Sn consumption during the film growth process.

Pudasaini, U.↗

Managing Sn-supply to tune surface characteristics of vapor-diffusion coating of Nb3Sn

Nb₃Sn promises better RF performance (Q and E_{acc}) than niobium at any given temperature because of superior superconducting properties. Nb₃Sn-coated SRF cavities are now produced routinely by growing a few microns thick Nb₃Sn films inside Nb cavities via the tin vapor diffusion technique. Sn evaporation and consumption during the growth process notably affect the quality of the coating. Aiming at favorable surface characteristics that could enhance the RF performance, many coatings were produced by varying Sn sources and temperature profiles. Coupon samples were examined using different material characterization techniques, and a selected few sets of coating parameters were used to coat 1.3 GHz single-cell cavities for RF testing. The Sn supply’s careful tuning is essential to manage the microstructure, roughness, and overall surface characteristics of the coating. We summarize the material analysis of witness samples and discuss the performance of several Nb₃Sn-coated single-cell cavities linked to Sn-source characteristics and observed Sn consumption during the film growth process.

Pudasaini, U.↗

Sputter sample preparation for ion beam delivery of radium-223 at ATLAS

A radium-223 ion beam was delivered to an experiment from the electron cyclotron resonance ion source, ECR2, at the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS). Here, the radium-223 material was in a nitrate salt form within a vial, prior to being converted to a usable sputter sample. The sputter sample was produced using a new sample preparation method, where the radium nitrate was dissolved into a solution and pipetted onto pressed aluminum powder. This sample was then allowed to dry, distributing the radium-223 material throughout the sputter sample. Ion source operation using the radium sputter sample is described with the operating parameters listed. The intensity and energy requirements for this ion beam were 1 × 10 6 particles/s and 1.07 GeV, respectively. Because the intensity is relatively low compared to most experiments at ATLAS, previously developed accelerator mass spectrometry methods were used Scott et al. to avoid the need for tuning of the low-intensity beam of interest. Handling of the radium material, as well as loading and unloading of the sputter sample from ECR2, required collaboration with Health Physics. Procedures were used and dry runs were carried out before, during, and after the experiment to ensure the safety of the workers. The processes used and lessons learned are described within.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Characterization and differentiation of aluminum powders used in improvised explosive devices. Part 2: Micromorphometric method refinement and preliminary statistical analysis

Abstract Aluminum (Al) powder is commonly encountered in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as a metallic fuel due to its availability and low cost. Although available commercially in powder form, amateur bomb‐makers also produce their own Al powder via simple methods found online. In order to provide investigative leads and forensic intelligence, it is important to evaluate not only the composition of homemade devices, but also to distinguish between the various forms of Al powder they contain. To achieve this goal, a method using automated microscopy in combination with statistical techniques has been demonstrated to have the potential to provide source discrimination and investigative leads in source attribution of Al powders in IEDs. The present research refined this method and investigated 59 industrially and amateurly produced Al powder sources with seven subsamples per source using two traditional linear discriminant analyses (LDA), one with a standard data split for training and testing, and another using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation. Averaging the classification accuracies for the two LDA‐based analyses, LDA has the ability to correctly classify 59.26%, 83.35%, and 80.69% of the samples based on their powder source, type, and production method, respectively. This classification accuracy represents a 3407%, 317%, and 61.38% increase in accuracy from random class assignment, respectively. Further, in most instances of incorrect data attribution to a particular source, the subsample has been misidentified with another sample of the same powder type or production method.

Ommen, Danica M.↗

Unravelling the origin of extended radio emission in narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies with the JVLA

Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) are believed to be active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the early stages of their evolution. Several dozen of them have been found to host relativistic jets, whilst the majority of NLS1s have not even been detected in radio, emphasising the heterogeneity of the class in this band. In this paper, our aim is to determine the predominant source of radio emission in a sample of 44 NLS1s, selected based on their extended kiloparsec-scale radio morphologies at 5.2 GHz. Here, we accomplish this by analysing their spatially resolved radio spectral index maps, centred at 5.2 GHz, as the spectral index carries information about the production mechanisms of the emission. In addition, we utilise several diagnostics based on mid-infrared emission to estimate the star formation activity of their host galaxies. These data are complemented by archival data to draw a more complete picture of each source. We find an extraordinary diversity among our sample. Approximately equal fractions (~10–12 sources) of our sources can be identified as AGN-dominated, composite, and host-dominated. Among the AGN-dominated sources are a few NLS1s with very extended jets, reaching distances of tens of kiloparsecs from the nucleus. One of these, J0814+5609, hosts the most extended jets found in an NLS1 so far. We also identify five NLS1s that could be classified as compact steep-spectrum sources. In addition, one source shows a possible kiloparsec-scale relic that reaches well outside the host galaxy as well as restarted nuclear activity, and one could belong to the sub-class of NLS1s that host relativistic jets that seem to be absorbed at lower radio frequencies (< 10 GHz). We further conclude that, due to the variety seen in NLS1s, simple proxies, such as the star formation diagnostics also employed in this paper and the radio loudness parameter, are not ideal tools for characterising NLS1s. We emphasise the necessity of examining NLS1s as individuals instead of making assumptions based on their classification. When these issues are properly taken into account, NLS1s offer an exceptional environment for studying the interplay between the host galaxy and several AGN-related phenomena, such as jets and outflows.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

ENERGY DISPERSIVE DIFFRACTION TOMOGRAPHY OF SHARK VERTEBRAL CENTRA

Shark vertebrae and their centra (vertebral bodies) are high-performance structures able to survive millions of cycles of high amplitude strain despite lacking a repair mechanism for accumulating damage. Shark centra consist of mineralized cartilage, a biocomposite of bioapatite (bAp), and collagen, and the nanocrystalline bAp's contribution to functionality remains largely uninvestigated. Using the multiple detector energy-dispersive diffraction (EDD) system at 6-BM-B, the Advanced Photon Source, and 3D tomographic sampling, the 3D functionality of entire centra were probed. Immersion in ethanol vs phosphate-buffered saline produces only small changes in bAp d-spacing within a great hammerhead centrum. EDD mapping under in situ loading was performed an entire blue shark centrum, and 3D maps of bAp strain showed the two structural zones of the centrum, the corpus calcareum and intermedialia, contained opposite-signed strains approaching 0.5%, and application of similar to 8% nominal strain did not alter these strain magnitudes and their spatial distribution.

Park, Jun-Sang↗

eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS) eFEDS X-ray view of WERGS radio galaxies selected by the Subaru/HSC and VLA/FIRST survey

We constructed the eROSITA X-ray catalog of radio galaxies discovered by the WERGS survey, made by cross-matching the wide area Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) optical survey and VLA/FIRST 1.4 GHz radio survey. We report finding 393 eROSITA detected radio galaxies in the 0.5-2 keV band in the eFEDS field covering 140 deg 2 . Thanks to the wide and medium depth eFEDS X-ray survey down to f 0.5 - 2 keV = 6.5 × 10 -15 erg s -1 cm -2 , the sample contains the rare and most X-ray luminous radio galaxies above the knee of the X-ray luminosity function, spanning 44 < log(L 0.5-2 keV (abs,corr) /erg s -1 ) < 46.5 at 1 < z < 4. The sample also contains the sources around and below the knee for the sources 41 < log(L 0.5-2 keV (abs,corr) /erg s -1 ) < 45 at z < 1. Based on the X-ray properties obtained by the spectral fitting, 37 sources show obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) signatures with log(N H /cm -2 ) > 22. These obscured and radio AGN reside in 0.4 < z < 3.2, indicating that they are obscured counterparts of the radio-loud quasar, which were missed in the previous optical quasar surveys. By combining radio and X-ray luminosities, we also investigated the jet production efficiency η jet = η rad P jet /L AGN,bol by utilizing the jet power of P jet . We find that there are 14 sources with extremely high jet production efficiency at η jet ≈ 1. This high η jet value might be a result of the decreased radiation efficiency of η rad < 0.1, due to the low accretion rate for those sources, and/or of the boosting due to the decline of L AGN,bol by a factor of 10-100 by keeping P jet constant in the previous Myr, indicating the experience of the AGN feedback. Finally, inferring the BH masses from the stellar mass, we find that X-ray luminous sources show the excess of the radio emission with respect to the value estimated from the fundamental plane. This radio emission excess cannot be explained by the Doppler boosting alone, and therefore the disk–jet connection of X-ray luminous eFEDS-WERGS is fundamentally different from the conventional fundamental plane which mainly covers the low-accretion regime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Synchrotron radiography of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability driven by exploding wire arrays

We present a new technique for the investigation of shock-driven hydrodynamic phenomena in gases, liquids, and solids in arbitrary geometries. The technique consists of a pulsed power-driven resistive wire array explosion in combination with multi-MHz synchrotron radiography. Compared to commonly used techniques, it offers multiple advantages: (1) the shockwave geometry can be shaped to the requirements of the experiment, (2) the pressure (P > 300 MPa) generated by the exploding wires enables the use of liquid and solid hydrodynamic targets with well-characterized initial conditions (ICs), (3) the multi-MHz radiography enables data acquisition to occur within a single experiment, eliminating uncertainties regarding repeatability of the ICs and subsequent dynamics, and (4) the radiographic measurements enable estimation of compression ratios from the x-ray attenuation. In addition, the use of a synchrotron x-ray source allows the hydrodynamic samples to be volumetrically characterized at a high spatial resolution with synchrotron-based microtomography. This experimental technique is demonstrated by performing a planar Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) experiment on an aerogel–water interface characterized by Atwood number A0∼−0.8 and Mach number M∼1.5. The qualitative and quantitative features of the experiment are discussed, including the energy deposition into the exploding wires, shockwave generation, compression of the interface, startup phase of the instability, and asymptotic growth consistent with Richtmyer's impulsive theory. Additional effects unique to liquids and solids—such as cavitation bubbles caused by rarefaction flows or initial jetting due to small perturbations—are observed. It is also demonstrated that the technique is not shape dependent by driving a cylindrically convergent RMI experiment.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗