Modelling electron-beam converter interactions in laser-driven X-ray radiography

POSTER

Abstract

Short-pulse laser-plasma interactions provide a possible route to high-performance X-ray radiography. This scheme involves two main stages: the laser-target interaction which generates an electron beam with energies in the MeV range, and conversion of the electron beam to X-rays via bremsstrahlung. Here we focus on modelling of the latter process.



Modelling of the x-ray yield is conventionally achieved via Monte-Carlo particle transport simulations, using codes such as MCNP, GEANT4, and PENELOPE. However, it has been known for some time that electric fields generated within the electron-beam converter material may decelerate the electron beam and therefore reduce the x-ray yield, and this is not modelled by such codes.



In this presentation we discuss progress towards modelling the impact of the electric field via extending the VPIC particle-in-cell code to model bremsstrahlung and other high-energy processes, and development of semi-analytic models that would provide a computationally inexpensive method for estimating the impact of these fields on the x-ray yield.

*This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Triad National Security, LLC, operator of the Los Alamos National Laboratory under Contract No. 89233218CNA000001 and was supported by the LDRD program.

Presenters

  • Alexander G Seaton

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

Authors

  • Alexander G Seaton

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

  • Brian J Albright

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

  • Chengkun Huang

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

  • Scott V Luedtke

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Brandon M Medina

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Lin Yin

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab