STUDY OF LASER-IMPLODED CORE PLASMAS WITH AN ADVANCED KIRKPATRICK-BAEZ X-RAY MICROSCOPE

We developed an advanced Kirkpatrick-Baez (AKB) x-ray microscope which consisted of two hyperbolic mirrors and two elliptic mirrors. The spa tial resolution of less than or similar to 3 mu m was realized over si milar to 1 mm diam. This AKB microscope was used for x-ray imaging in laser fusion experiments. Laser absorption nonuniformity with a large wave number on a spherical solid target or a plane slab target was est imated by measurements of x-ray emission from the target surface with the microscope. The x-ray images of the imploded core plasmas were als o obtained with the AKB microscope, changing the laser focus condition and the laser energy balance. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.