Optimizing laser-accelerated electrons for laser-based X-ray radiography

POSTER

Abstract

The interaction of high-intensity lasers with solid-density or foam targets leads to the generation of multi-MeV electrons. When these electrons propagate through high-Z matter such as a mm-thick tungsten foil, they produce MeV x-rays that can be used for applications such as static and dynamic x-ray radiography. In this work, we use the VPIC kinetic plasma simulation code and the MCNP transport code to model the interaction of intense laser pulses with bare, CH-foam-coated, and CH-coated tungsten targets and show how laser target design provides a means for optimizing and controlling x-ray dose and spectrum. We explore the scaling of high-energy electron and x-ray production to laser pulse length, focal spot size, and intensity. We also explore the role of pre-plasma generated from finite laser pedestal in modifying the x-ray generation. Comparisons with recent experiments will also be presented.

*This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Dept. of Energy by the Triad National Security, LLC Los Alamos National Laboratory and was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program. Computing resources provided by ATCC and LANL Institutional Computing programs.

Presenters

  • Lin Yin

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

Authors

  • Lin Yin

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Brian J Albright

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

  • Alemayahu Bogale

    • Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

  • juan c fernandez

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Rebecca Fitzgarrald

    • University of Michigan
    • Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

  • Cort C Gautier

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA

  • Christopher E Hamilton

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Chengkun Huang

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

  • James Hunter

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Scott Luedtke

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

  • Brandon M Medina

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

  • Tyler Mix

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Lab

  • Sasi Palaniyappan

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Lab

  • Alexander G Seaton

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

  • Avneet Sood

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • David Stark

    • LANL
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA

  • Joseph Strehlow

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Christopher Tomkins

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Ashlyn Van Pelt

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl Lab