High repetition-rate dual-channel X-ray spectrometer for high-intensity laser-plasma experiments.

We describe the development and demonstration of a high-repetition-rate-capable dual-channel (DC) x-ray spectrometer designed for high-intensity laser-plasma experiments (≥1×1021 W/cm2). The spectrometer, which operates at high repetition rates, is limited only by the refresh rate of targets and the camera's frame rate. It features two channels, each equipped with a flat highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) crystal and a unique detector plane, allowing it to resolve two distinct x-ray bands: approximately 7-10 and 10-13 keV.

Flexible tape-drive target system for secondary high-intensity laser-driven sources.

We present the development of a flexible tape-drive target system to generate and control secondary high-intensity laser-plasma sources. Its adjustable design permits the generation of relativistic MeV particles and x rays at high-intensity (i.e.

Simultaneous bright- and dark-field X-ray microscopy at X-ray free electron lasers.

The structures, strain fields, and defect distributions in solid materials underlie the mechanical and physical properties across numerous applications. Many modern microstructural microscopy tools characterize crystal grains, domains and defects required to map lattice distortions or deformation, but are limited to studies of the (near) surface. Generally speaking, such tools cannot probe the structural dynamics in a way that is representative of bulk behavior.

Real-time imaging of acoustic waves in bulk materials with X-ray microscopy.

The dynamics of lattice vibrations govern many material processes, such as acoustic wave propagation, displacive phase transitions, and ballistic thermal transport. The maximum velocity of these processes and their effects is determined by the speed of sound, which therefore defines the temporal resolution (picoseconds) needed to resolve these phenomena on their characteristic length scales (nanometers). Here, we present an X-ray microscope capable of imaging acoustic waves with subpicosecond resolution within mm-sized crystals.

A flexible proton beam imaging energy spectrometer (PROBIES) for high repetition rate or single-shot high energy density (HED) experiments (invited).

The PROBIES diagnostic is a new, highly flexible, imaging and energy spectrometer designed for laser-accelerated protons. The diagnostic can detect low-mode spatial variations in the proton beam profile while resolving multiple energies on a single detector or more. When a radiochromic film stack is employed for "single-shot mode," the energy resolution of the stack can be greatly increased while reducing the need for large numbers of films; for example, a recently deployed version allowed for 180 unique energy measurements spanning ∼3 to 75 MeV with <0.