X-ray imaging of targets irradiated by the Nike KrF laser

Abstract

Foil targets irradiated by the Naval Research Laboratory Nike KrF laser were imaged in the x-ray region with two-dimensional spatial resolution in the 2–10 μm range. The images revealed the smoothness of the emission from target and backlighter foils, the acceleration of the target foils, and the growth of Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities that were seeded by patterns on the irradiated sides of CH foils.