APPLICATION OF X-RAY-LASER INTERFEROMETRY TO STUDY HIGH-DENSITY LASER-PRODUCED PLASMAS

Collisionally pumped soft-x-ray lasers now operate over a wavelength r ange extending from 4 to 40 nn. With the recent advances in the develo pment of multilayer mirrors and beam splitters in the soft-x-ray regim e, we can utilize the unique properties of x-ray lasers to study large , rapidly evolving laser-driven plasmas with high electron densities. Using a neonlike yttrium x-ray laser, which operates at a wavelength o f 15.5 nm, we have performed a series of radiography, moire deflectome try, and interferometry experiments to characterize plasmas relevant t o inertial confinement fusion. We describe experiments using a soft-xr ay laser interferometer, operated in the Mach-Zehnder configuration, t o study CH plasmas. The two-dimensional density profiles obtained from the interferograms allow us to validate and benchmark our numerical m odels used to study the physics of laser-plasma interactions. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America