Measurements of electron temperature in high-energy-density plasmas using gated x-ray pinhole imaging

We present measurements of spatially and temporally resolved electron temperature in high-energy-density plasmas using gated x-ray pinhole imagers. A 2D image of bremsstrahlung x-ray self-emission from laser-driven plasma plumes is detected at the same time through two pinholes covered with different filter materials. By comparing the attenuated signal through each filter, a spatially resolved electron temperature as low as 0.1 keV can be estimated. Measurements of the plasma plume taken from different directions indicate that imaging through extended plasmas has a negligible effect on the temperature estimates. Methods for estimating the expected signal, selecting filters, and incorporating the response of the detector are discussed.

Automated summary

This study presents measurements of spatially and temporally resolved electron temperature in high-energy-density plasmas using gated x-ray pinhole imagers. By comparing the attenuated signal through different filter materials, a spatially resolved electron temperature as low as 0.1 keV can be estimated. Furthermore, imaging from different directions has a negligible effect on temperature estimates.