Betatron X-Ray Imaging of Hydrodynamics Shocks in Water

ORAL

Abstract

Laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) are a promising alternative for generating bright radiation sources at a fraction of the size and cost of conventional synchrotron-like facilities. The X-ray bursts emitted from a LWFA have sub-micron size, femto-second duration and low beam divergence, thus making them suitable for imaging small-scale dynamic phenomena. In this work we will image the evolution of hydrodynamic shock waves produced by the interaction of a long laser pulse with a stream of water. By taking advantage of the unique properties of plasma-based accelerators, the X-ray pulses will capture the full dynamic evolution of the propagating shock. We have made preliminary measurements and simulations of electron beam and X-ray characteristics, are developing a continuous carbon-free (water) target, and have performed radiograph hydrodynamic simulations of the laser-target interaction using CRASH software.

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Authors

  • M.D. Balcazar

    Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan

  • Hai-En Tsai

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • T Ostermayr

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Cameron Geddes

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL, Berkeley National Laboratory, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Carl Schroeder

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, UCB; LBNL, Berkeley National Laboratory, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • T Schenkel

    BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • E Esarey

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Y Ma

    University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Gérard Mourou Center of Ultrafast Optical Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan

  • A.G.R. Thomas

    University of Michigan, Gérard Mourou Center of Ultrafast Optical Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan

  • J Nees

    University of Michigan, Gérard Mourou Center of Ultrafast Optical Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan

  • C Todd

    U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Nuclear Engineering \& Radiological Sciences Department, University of Michigan

  • M Trantham

    Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor, U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Nuclear Engineering \& Radiological Sciences Department, University of Michigan

  • C.C. Kuranz

    University of Michigan, Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor, U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Nuclear Engineering \& Radiological Sciences Department, University of Michigan