High Resolution Imaging System for Plasma X-Ray Sources

Summary form only given. We present the design and preliminary results for an imaging system for plasma X-ray sources. The imaging system consists of filters, a compound refractive X-ray lens and CCD camera with an integrated scintillator. This system provides greater resolution images, better than 2 mum resolution, than is readily achievable with pinhole cameras; at 1 mum resolution, the collection area of a refractive optic is over 1000 times that of a pinhole camera, and the refractive lens can operate at much higher X-ray energies. This method also provides a direct image of the source, unlike resolution charts or knife edge response measurements. Since the per exposure time and cost of many plasma sources prevents alignment of the imager using the plasma X-ray beam itself, a laser alignment tool is presented to assure the source is in the field of view