Simple and reliable x-ray fluence measurements, in addition to time-resolve
d diagnostics, are needed to understand the physics of hot Z-pinch plasmas.
A commercially available laser calorimeter has been modified for measuring
soft x-ray fluence from the Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Th
e x-ray absorber of this calorimeter is an aluminum disk, attached to a two
-dimensional thermopile and surrounded by an isoperibol shroud. The time in
tegral and the maximum of the thermopile voltage signal are both proportion
al to the x-ray energy deposited. Data are collected for 90 s, and the inst
rument has, thus far, been used in the 1-25 mJ range. A wider dynamic measu
ring range for x-ray fluence (energy/area) can be achieved by varying the a
rea of the defining aperture. The calorimeter is calibrated by an electrica
l substitution method. Calibrations are performed before and after each x-r
ay experiment on the Z facility. The calibration of the time integral of th
e thermopile voltage versus energy deposited (or the peak of thermopile vol
tage versus energy deposited) is linear with zero intercept at the 95% conf
idence level. The irreproducibility of the calibration is < 2%, and the imp
recision in the measurement of the incident x-ray energy (inferred from sig
nal noise and the calibration) is estimated to be similar to 0.9 mJ (95% co
nfidence level). The systematic uncertainty (inaccuracy), due to correctabl
e baseline shifts, is estimated at +/- 10%. Comparisons have been made of t
he calorimeter to time-resolved x-ray diagnostics, e.g., bolometers and x-r
ay diode arrays, by integrating the flux measured by such instruments over
time. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)70101-2].