Simultaneous x-ray and optical shadowgraphy of cavities heated by λ = 0.44 μm laser light

Abstract

Gold cavity targets were irradiated with λ = 0.44 μm laser light at intensities ≤ 2.6 ×1013W/cm2. The outward motion of the cavity wall was investigated by simultaneous optical and x-ray shadowgraphy. The wall motion is attributed to the pressure generated by an ablative heat wave, driven by the soft x-rays in the cavity. The observed transparency of the cavities for the x-rays used for shadowgraphy allowed the determination of the density profile of the cavity wall which decays possibly due to fragmentation.