Localized Density Measurement by Scattered X-Ray Imaging

Transmission x-ray radiography has been used successfully as a diagnostic for high energy density experiments for many years. This method is limited, though, as radiographs provide only integrated density measurements along the x-ray path and require a collinear source-detector configuration. These constraints do not exist for the imaging of x-rays, which may provide localized, point-wise interrogation of density structure inside an experimental package and allows much greater flexibility in source-detector experimental geometry. Here we describe the method of scattered x-ray imaging by defining the forward problem, applying it to model systems, and exploring methods of solving the related inverse problem. Also presented are initial experimental results from scattered x-ray imaging experiments on the Omega Laser at the Lab for Laser Energetics.