Spectrally discriminating time-resolved and space-related X-ray plasma diagnostics

The experimental study of laser-produced plasmas, particularly those relevant to laser fusion, has long motivated the development of new X-ray plasma diagnostic techniques. This paper summarizes the application of a number of novel space-resolved and time-resolved X-ray diagnostic systems to the study of plasmas produced by the 1 beam 0.35 μm GDL facility, and by the 24 beam 1.05 μm OMEGA facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Two time-resolving X-ray spectrometers are described, one utilizing a transmission grating as a dispersive element, the other employing an array of -edge filters for spectral discrimination. A transmission grating is also used in conjunction with a Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope to provide spectrally dispersed high spatial resolution images of the laser-produced plasmas. The usefulness of these instruments in measuring specific plasma parameters and identifying particular spectral features, in some cases with the aid of other diagnostic instrumentation, is illustrated.