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At least 19 records

Digital Time-Resolved Spot Diagnostic

The digital time-resolved spot diagnostic (D-TRSD) is a fast-response, time-dependent beam diagnostic for measuring the emitted spot size and beam target interactions from radiographic x-ray sources. Legacy streaked TRSD analysis requires image processing and data extraction, which give noisy results. Processed data are used to extract edge spread and corresponding line spread functions. Digital TRSD simplifies this process, eliminating the complexity of streak camera–based systems.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Digital Time-Resolved Spot Diagnostic

The digital time-resolved spot diagnostic (D-TRSD) is intended to be a fast-response, time-dependent beam diagnostic for measuring the spot size emitted from radiographic x-ray sources. It will measure spot sizes from submillimeters up to several millimeters for photon energies in the range of 150 keV to 20 MeV with doses as low as 0.03 rad up to 500 rad. The D-TRSD performs fast data acquisition as radiographic x-ray sources typically produce pulses in the tens of nanosecond ranges. The system will be optimized to capture multiple individual pulses in time within the same data record. The data collected will be used to support beam tuning and source optimization with on-the-fly evaluation of radiographic source performance. The diagnostic is based on penumbral imaging techniques. A scintillating fiber array of parallel aligned fibers is positioned in the beam path with a high-Z rolled edge inserted between the source and the array, thereby creating the penumbral x-ray signal that is captured by the D-TRSD system. The light from the scintillation conversion is recorded by individual avalanche photodiode detectors integrated into custom digitizer electronics. The penumbra is used to calculate the spot of the beam on the axis orthogonal to the fiber array based on the magnification from the rolled edge, the resolution of the spaced fibers, and the rotation of the array normal to the beam path. Many arrays can be used to capture additional spot widths about different rotations. The D-TRSD system is modular, software-driven, and easier to use than legacy TRSD systems.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

All-Digital Time-Resolved Spot Diagnostic

Presentation describes research into construction of a time-resolved spot diagnostic using mostly commercial off-the-shelf components, with system requirements to include (among others) comparable or better signal-to-noise ratio than a streak camera; low-loss fiber network, likely less than a few dB; optimized interface to the scintillators; and fast detectors to capture the pulse shape, 500 MHz to 1 GHz analog bandwidth with good linearity.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

FY19 L2 MRT 6744 Milestone Completion: Digital Time-Resolved Spot Diagnostic (D-TRSD)

This milestone report describes development of the Digital Time-Resolved Spot Diagnostic (D-TRSD) into a functioning diagnostic that has been proven in the laboratory. Laboratory tests complete the MRT 6744 exit criteria with the recording and analysis of a spot size measurement for two consecutive pulses on a two-pulse source. Additional channels will be added in the near future to provide an 84-channel measurement capability. The new modular design is more portable than the previous generations and will be much easier to set up at radiographic facilities across the complex.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A multi-channel x-ray temporal diagnostic for measurement of time-resolved electron temperature in cryogenic deuterium–tritium implosions at OMEGA

Electron-temperature (T e ) measurements in implosions provide valuable diagnostic information, as Te is unaffected by residual flows and other non-thermal effects unlike ion temperature inferred from a fusion product spectrum. In OMEGA cryogenic implosions, measurement of T e (t) can be used to investigate effects related to time-resolved hot-spot energy balance. The proposed diagnostic utilizes five fast-rise (~15 ps) scintillator channels with distinct x-ray filtering. Furthermore, titanium and stepped aluminum filtering were chosen to maximize detector sensitivity in the 10 keV–20 keV range, as it has been shown that these x rays have similar density and temperature weighting to the emitted deuterium–tritium fusion neutrons. Initial data collected using a prototype nosecone on the existing neutron temporal diagnostic demonstrate the validity of this diagnostic technique. The proposed system will be capable of measuring spatially integrated T e (t) with 20 ps time resolution and <10% uncertainty at peak emission in cryogenic DT implosions.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The phase-2 particle x-ray temporal diagnostic for simultaneous measurement of multiple x-ray and nuclear emission histories from OMEGA implosions (invited)

Electron-temperature (T e ) measurements in implosions provide valuable diagnostic information, as T e is negligibly affected by residual flows and other non-thermal effects unlike ion-temperature inferred from a fusion product spectrum. In OMEGA cryogenic implosions, measurement of T e (t) can be used to investigate effects related to time-resolved hot-spot energy balance. The newly implemented phase-2 Particle X-ray Temporal Diagnostic (PXTD) utilizes four fast-rise (~15 ps) scintillator-channels with distinct x-ray filtering. Titanium and stepped aluminum filtering were chosen to maximize detector sensitivity in the 10–20 keV range, as it has been shown that these x rays have similar density and temperature weighting to the emitted deuterium–tritium fusion neutrons (DTn) from OMEGA Cryo-DT implosions. High quality data have been collected from warm implosions at OMEGA. These data have been used to infer spatially integrated T e (t) with <10% uncertainty at peak emission. Nuclear and x-ray emission histories are measured with 10 ps relative timing uncertainty for x rays and DTn and 12 ps for x rays and deuterium- 3 He protons (D 3 Hep). A future upgrade to the system will enable spatially integrated T e (t) with 40 ps time-resolution from cryogenic DT implosions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Mechanisms of ultrafast GHz burst fs laser ablation

Gigahertz (GHz) femtosecond (fs) lasers have opened possibilities for enhancing and controlling the laser machining quality to engineer the physicochemical properties of materials. However, fundamental understanding of laser-material interactions by GHz fs laser has remained unsolved due to the complexity of associated ablation dynamics. Here, we study the ablation dynamics of copper (Cu) by GHz fs bursts using in situ multimodal diagnostics, time-resolved scattering imaging, emission imaging, and emission spectroscopy. A combination of probing techniques reveals that GHz fs bursts rapidly remove molten Cu from the irradiated spot due to the recoil pressure exerted by following fs pulses. Material ejection essentially stops right after the burst irradiation due to the limited amount of remnant matter, combined with the suppressed heat conduction into the target material. Our work provides insights into the complex ablation mechanisms incurred by GHz fs bursts, which are critical in selecting optimal laser conditions in cross-cutting processing, micro/nano-fabrication, and spectroscopy applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Capability for time-resolved diffraction for material phase in extreme conditions (Q2 FY24 Report)

After a series of development experiments, a new x-ray diffraction diagnostic called FIDDLE (Flexible Imaging Diffraction Diagnostic for Laser Experiments) has been designed, built, and fielded on four shots at NIF. Here we document the initial performance of FIDDLE fielded as the detector in the time-resolved x-ray diffraction experimental platform. Early challenges with EMP have been documented using offline testing in the Target Diagnostics Factory to identify EMP leaks. These techniques were used to guide the application of shielding to weak spots where EM radiation was able to penetrate inside the diagnostic. Application of shielding was found to be effective at reducing EMP leaks, enabling detection of x-ray diffraction on three temporally separated frames during a high pressure (~1Mbar) experiment where lead (Pb) was observed to undergo a phase transition from HCP to BCC.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

MHz free electron laser x-ray diffraction and modeling of pulsed laser heated diamond anvil cell

A new diamond anvil cell experimental approach has been implemented at the European x-ray Free Electron Laser, combining pulsed laser heating with MHz x-ray diffraction. In this report we use this setup to determine liquidus temperatures under extreme conditions, based on the determination of time-resolved crystallization. The focus is on a Fe-Si-O ternary system, relevant for planetary cores. This time-resolved diagnostic is complemented by a finite-element model, reproducing temporal temperature profiles measured experimentally using streaked optical pyrometry. This model calculates the temperature and strain fields by including (i) pressure and temperature dependencies of material properties, and (ii) the heat-induced thermal stress, including feedback effect on material parameter variations. Making our model more realistic, these improvements are critical as they give 7000 K temperature differences compared to previous models. Laser intensities are determined by seeking minimal deviation between measured and modeled temperatures. Combining models and streak optical pyrometry data extends temperature determination below detection limit. The presented approach can be used to infer the liquidus temperature by the appearance of SiO 2 diffraction spots. In addition, temperatures obtained by the model agree with crystallization temperatures reported for Fe–Si alloys. Our model reproduces the planetary relevant experimental conditions, providing temperature, pressure, and volume conditions. Those predictions are then used to determine liquidus temperatures at experimental timescales where chemical migration is limited. This synergy of novel time-resolved experiments and finite-element modeling pushes further the interpretation capabilities in diamond anvil cell experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Proof-of-concept of a neutron time-of-flight ellipsoidal detector

The time-resolved measurement of neutrons emitted from nuclear implosions at inertial confinement fusion facilities is used to characterize the fusing plasma. Several significant quantities are routinely measured by neutron time-of-flight (nToF) detectors in these experiments. Current nToF detectors use scintillators as well as solid-state Cherenkov radiators. The latter has an inherently faster time response and can provide a co-registered γ-ray measurement as well as improved precision in the bulk hot-spot velocity. This work discusses a nToF ellipsoidal detector that also utilizes a solid-state Cherenkov radiator. The detector has the potential to achieve a fast instrument response function allowing for characterization of the γ-ray burn history as well as the ability to field the detector closer to the fusion source. Proof-of-concept testing of the nToF ellipsoidal detector has been conducted at the National Ignition Facility using commercial optics. A time-resolved neutron signal has been measured from the diagnostic. Preliminary simulations corroborate the results.

Jeet, J. (ORCID:0000000291091563)↗

Time-resolved measurement of electron beam neutralization

An intense relativistic electron beam (IREB) incident on a target generates positive ions by stimulated and thermal desorption of adsorbed gas, and subsequent electron impact ionization. These ions are accelerated upstream by the beam space-charge potential, thereby partially neutralizing the beam. If there is enough neutralization, the repulsive space-charge force can be overcome by the magnetic-pinch force due to the beam current. This so-called ion focusing is responsible for time dependent defocusing of the radiographic source spot. Since a single monolayer of adsorbed gas has a surface density of about 10 15 /cm 2 and is formed in about one second in a one micro-Torr vacuum, there is always enough adsorbed gas to make this a concern in our accelerators. Therefore, time-resolved measurements of the degree of neutralization are valuable for better understanding of this process with an eye to mitigation for improvement of our radiography. Moreover, these measurements would aid quantification of uncertainties due to these effects when using invasive beam diagnostics, such as OTR imaging targets.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Time-resolved High Spectral Resolution Observation of 2MASSW J0746425+200032AB

Many brown dwarfs (BDs) exhibit photometric variability at levels from tenths to tens of percents. The photometric variability is related to magnetic activity or patchy cloud coverage, characteristic of BDs near the L–T transition. Time-resolved spectral monitoring of BDs provides diagnostics of cloud distribution and condensate properties. However, current time-resolved spectral studies of BDs are limited to low spectral resolution ( R ∼ 100) with the exception of the study of Luhman 16 AB at a resolution of 100,000 using the VLT+CRIRES. This work yielded the first map of BD surface inhomogeneity, highlighting the importance and unique contribution of high spectral resolution observations. Here, we report on the time-resolved high spectral resolution observations of a nearby BD binary, 2MASSW J0746425+200032AB. We find no coherent spectral variability that is modulated with rotation. Based on simulations, we conclude that the coverage of a single spot on 2MASSW J0746425+200032AB is smaller than 1% or 6.25% if spot contrast is 50% or 80% of its surrounding flux, respectively. Future high spectral resolution observations aided by adaptive optics systems can put tighter constraints on the spectral variability of 2MASSW J0746425+200032AB and other nearby BDs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The single-line-of-sight, time-resolved x-ray imager diagnostic on OMEGA

We present that the single-line-of-sight, time-resolved x-ray imager (SLOS-TRXI) on OMEGA is one of a new generation of fast-gated x-ray cameras comprising an electron pulse-dilation imager and a nanosecond-gated, burst-mode, hybrid complementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor. SLOS-TRXI images the core of imploded cryogenic deuterium–tritium shells in inertial confinement fusion experiments in the ~4- to 9-keV photon energy range with a pinhole imager onto a photocathode. The diagnostic is mounted on a fixed port almost perpendicular to a 16 channel, framing-camera–based, time-resolved Kirkpatrick–Baez microscope, providing a second time-gated line of sight for hot-spot imaging on OMEGA. SLOS-TRXI achieves ~40-ps temporal resolution and better than 10 μm spatial resolution. Finally, shots with neutron yields of up to 1 × 10 14 were taken without observed neutron-induced background signal. The implosion images from SLOS-TRXI show the evolution of the stagnating core.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Using time-resolved penumbral imaging to measure low hot spot x-ray emission signals from capsule implosions at the National Ignition Facility

Here, we have developed and fielded a new x-ray pinhole-imaging snout that exploits time-resolved penumbral imaging of low-emission hot spots in capsule implosion experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). We report on results for a series of indirectly driven Be capsule implosions that aim at measuring x-ray Thomson scattering (XRTS) spectra at extreme density conditions near stagnation. In these implosions, x-ray emission at stagnation is reduced by 100 – 1000x compared to standard inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions to mitigate undesired continuum background in the XRTS spectra. Our snout design enables not only measurements of peak x-ray emission times, t o , where standard ICF diagnostics would not record any signal, but also allows for inference of hot spots shapes. Measurement of t o is crucial to account for shot-to-shot variations in implosion velocity and therefore to benchmark the achieved plasma conditions between shots and against radiation hydrodynamics simulations. Additionally, we used differential filtering to infer a hot spot temperature of 520 ± 80 eV, which is in good agreement with predictions from radiation hydrodynamic simulations. Here, we find that, despite fluctuations of the x-ray flash intensity of up to 5x, the emission time history is similar from shot to shot, and slightly asymmetric with respect to peak x-ray emission.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Implementation of the foil-on-hohlraum technique for the magnetic recoil spectrometer for time-resolved neutron measurements at the National Ignition Facility

The next-generation Magnetic Recoil Spectrometer, called MRSt, will provide time-resolved measurements of the deuterium-tritium-neutron spectrum from inertial confinement fusion implosions at the National Ignition Facility. These measurements will provide critical information about the time evolution of the fuel assembly, hot-spot formation, and nuclear burn. The absolute neutron spectrum in the energy range of 12-16 MeV will be measured with high accuracy (~5%), unprecedented energy resolution (~100 keV) and, for the first time ever, time resolution (~20 ps). Crucial to the design of the system is a CD conversion foil for the production of recoil deuterons positioned as close to the implosion as possible. The foil-on-hohlraum technique has been demonstrated by placing a 1-mm-diameter, 40-μm-thick CD foil on the hohlraum diagnostic band along the line-of-sight of the current time-integrated MRS system, which measured the recoil deuterons. In addition to providing validation of the foil-on-hohlraum technique for the MRSt design, substantial improvement of the MRS energy resolution was demonstrated.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Using neutrons and x rays to measure plasma conditions in a solid sphere of deuterated polyethylene compressed to densities of 35 g/cc at temperatures of 2 keV and pressures of 40 Gbar

This paper describes an experiment that shock compresses the center of a solid deuterated polyethylene sphere, CD 2 , to densities of 35 g/cc and temperatures of 2 keV with corresponding pressure of 40 Gbar. The design employs a strong spherically converging shock launched through a solid ball of material using a Hohlraum radiation drive. As the shock coalesces at the center it produces a hot spot that we characterize by measuring the x-ray self-emission and 2.45 MeV neutrons emitted. Two-dimensional images and time-resolved measurements of the x rays emitted determine the size and time duration of the hot spot, leading to an estimated 2k eV electron temperature. The neutron time of flight spectrometer measures an average ion temperature of 1.06 ± 0.15 keV and neutron yield of 7.0 (±0.5) × 10 9 DD neutrons. Our new distribution function tool enables us to create a forward model of the experimental data based on 1D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, leading to a better understanding of the plasma conditions that produce the measured neutrons and x rays. Furthermore, our simulations indicate that the x rays are produced in a short-lived hot-dense core over tens of picoseconds, whereas the neutron emission continues for about 200 ps, as the hot core starts to expand, thereby leading to a lower mean temperature of the plasma during neutron production. This finding is in agreement with the experimental data, and we therefore conclude that the forward-modeling is a useful tool for inferring the conditions of the hot spot in a laser-driven implosion during burn.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Design of the high-yield time-gated x-ray hot-spot imager for OMEGA

Time-resolved x-ray self-emission imaging of hot spots in inertial confinement fusion experiments along several lines of sight provides critical information on the pressure and the transient morphology of the hot spot on the University of Rochester’s OMEGA Laser System. At least three quasi-orthogonal lines of sight are required to infer the tomographic information of the hot spots of deuterium–tritium cryogenic layered implosions. OMEGA currently has two time-gated x-ray hot-spot imagers: the time-resolved Kirkpatrick–Baez x-ray microscope and the single-line-of-sight, time-resolved x-ray imager (SLOS-TRXI). The time-gated x-ray hot-spot imager (XRHSI) is being developed for use on OMEGA as the third line of sight for the high-yield operation of up to 4 × 10 14 neutrons. XRHSI follows the SLOS-TRXI concept; however, it will have improved spatial and temporal resolutions of 5 μm and 20 ps, respectively. The simultaneous operation of the three instruments will provide 3-D reconstructions of the assembled hot-spot fuel at various times through peak thermonuclear output. The technical approach consists of a pinhole array imager and demagnifying time-dilation drift tube that are coupled to two side-by-side hybrid complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (hCMOS) image sensors. To minimize the background and to harden the diagnostics, an angled drift-tube assembly shifting the hCMOS sensors out of the direct line of sight and neutron shielding will be applied. As a result, the technical design space for the instrument will be discussed and the conceptual design will be presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Studies and optimization of hybrid X-pinches

Studies were carried out on the hybrid X-pinch (HXP) configuration for several wire materials using a 40ns risetime, 300-kA pulsed-power generator with the goal of optimizing the HXP X-ray burst parameters for different applications. The gap distance between the conical electrodes of the hybrid X-pinch was varied from 0.5 to 5 mm for Al, Ag, Ti, and Mo using different wire diameters to maintain a consistent mass per unit length from one material to the next. It was found that 0.5 - 1 mm gap spacing was optimal to obtain a single X-ray burst, while the number of X-ray bursts increased with gap spacing for all materials at a rate of 1-2/mm. Time consistency studies of the first X-ray burst were carried out for Ti wire by changing the gap distance and wire diameter while observing the time of occurrence of the X-ray bursts. Here, it was found that a 40μm Ti wire load with a 3mm electrode gap spacing had the highest probability to have the first X-ray burst reproducibly within a 2 ns time window. Time-resolved and time-integrated diagnostics provided information about the source size, time of occurrence, intensity, and the number of the X-ray bursts.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗