Bremsstrahlung emission from high power laser interactions with constrained targets for industrial radiography

Armstrong, C. D. and Brenner, C. M. and Jones, C. and Rusby, D. R. and Davidson, Z. E. and Zhang, Y. and Wragg, J. and Richards, S. and Spindloe, C. and Oliveira, P. and Notley, M. and Clarke, R. and Mirfayzi, S. R. and Kar, S. and Li, Y. and Scott, T and McKenna, P. and Neely, D. (2019) Bremsstrahlung emission from high power laser interactions with constrained targets for industrial radiography. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 7. e24. ISSN 2095-4719 (https://doi.org/10.1017/hpl.2019.8)

[thumbnail of Armstrong-etal-HPLSE-2019-Bremsstrahlung-emission-from-high-power-laser-interactions]
Preview
Text. Filename: Armstrong_etal_HPLSE_2019_Bremsstrahlung_emission_from_high_power_laser_interactions.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo

Download (546kB)| Preview

Abstract

Laser-solid interactions are highly suited as a potential source of high energy X-rays for nondestructive imaging. A bright, energetic X-ray pulse can be driven from a small source, making it ideal for high resolution X-ray radiography. By limiting the lateral dimensions of the target we are able to confine the region over which X-rays are produced, enabling imaging with enhanced resolution and contrast. Using constrained targets we demonstrate experimentally a X-ray source, improving the image quality compared to unconstrained foil targets. Modelling demonstrates that a larger sheath field envelope around the perimeter of the constrained targets increases the proportion of electron current that recirculates through the target, driving a brighter source of X-rays.