Soft X-ray laser diagnostics of exploding aluminum wire plasmas
Date
2004
Authors
Rocca, Jorge J., author
Marconi, M. C., author
Filevich, J., author
Jankowska, E., author
Szapiro, B., author
Hammarsten, E. C., author
Springer-Verlag, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
The evolution of current-driven thin single Al wire plasmas was studied with soft X-ray shadowgraphy and interferometry using a very compact capillary discharge-driven λ = 46.9 nm laser probe. Wires of 25 μm diameter excited by current pulses with a 78 A/ns increase rate were observed to expand uniformly at a rate of 3.5 μm/ns. In contrast, an increase in the rate of energy deposited per unit mass was observed to give rise to significant early plasma instabilities. The results illustrate the use of table-top soft X-ray lasers as a new tool for the diagnostics of dense pulse power driven plasmas.