Development of a High-Resolution X-ray Radiography Platform for Imaging Hydrodynamic Instabilities at NIF

High-resolution x-ray radiography is a powerful diagnostic for investigating hydrodynamic instabilities under high energy density conditions. To resolve the complex flow evolution during instability growth, the radiography system must achieve spatial and temporal resolutions on the order of 5 microns and 100 picoseconds, respectively. We present recent advancements in the development of a high-resolution radiography platform at the National Ignition Facility (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) utilizing the Crystal Backlighter Imager. Building upon previous work that characterized the toroidal crystal's depth-of-field resolution, backlighter fluence, and temporal response using an integrated platform, we discuss the impact of protective shielding on the crystal's performance, as well as measurements of backlighter fluence in shock-driven experiments. The optimized imaging platform will be applied to radiograph shock-induced hydrodynamic instabilities, providing critical data for benchmarking large-eddy simulations of plasma mixing.