Development of High Fluence X-Ray Sources on the NIF Using Laser Heated Novel Nano-Wire Metal Foams

High fluence K-shell x-ray sources are being developed for high energy density physics experiments. The sources are produced by laser heating free standing pure Ag nano- wire foams in the shape of cylinders nominally 4 mm in diameter, 4 mm tall. The manufacture of robust low density foams (6 - 12 mg/cm3) is now possible through a new technique of freeze drying an aqueous suspension of nano-wires. X-ray conversion efficiency from these laser heated underdense nano-wire foams have been measured to be ∼0.6% which is about twice that observed in more conventional laser heated cavity x-ray sources. 192 laser beams from NIF are used to heat the foams with ∼400 TW of 3ω laser light in a 2.5 ns square pulse in time depositing ∼950 kJ into each foam. Experimental results and comparisons with simulations will be presented.