HIGH-ENERGY X-RAY MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUES FOR LASER-FUSION PLASMA RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY

Multi-kilo-eledron-volt x-ray microscopy will be an important laser-pr oduced plasma diagnostic at future megajoule facilities such as the Na tional Ignition Facility (NIF). However, laser energies and plasma cha racteristics imply that x-ray microscopy will be more challenging at N IF than at existing facilities. We use analytical estimates and numeri cal ray tracing to investigate several instrumentation options in deta il, and we conclude that near-normal-incidence single spherical or tor oidal crystals may offer the best general solution for high-energy x-r ay microscopy at NIF and similar large facilities. Apertured Kirkpatri ck-Baez microscopes using multilayer mirrors may also be good options, particularly for applications requiring one-dimensional imaging over narrow fields of view.