Characterization of the upgraded single-line-of-sight time-resolved x-ray imager using short-pulse visible and UV lasers

Abstract

The single-line-of-sight time-resolved x-ray imager (SLOS-TRXI), a fast-gated x-ray imager used for capturing x-ray self-emission in inertial confinement fusion experiments on OMEGA, has been upgraded and characterized. SLOS-TRXI combines an electron-dilation imager and a hybrid complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (hCMOS) sensor to capture multiple gated frames on a single line of sight with a temporal resolution of ∼40 ps and a spatial resolution of 10 µm. The original hCMOS sensor with four frames was replaced with a newer-generation hCMOS sensor having eight frames. Gate characterizations of both the sensor and the entire SLOS-TRXI diagnostic were performed using ∼10-ps FWHM visible (2ω) and UV (4ω) short-pulse lasers, respectively. A stepped echelon was used to generate a train of five UV laser pulses having an interpulse separation of 30 ± 3 ps. Characterization results of the hCMOS gating (2.28 ± 0.02-ns FWHM on average) and a temporal resolution of the upgraded SLOS-TRXI (34 ± 4-ps FWHM on average) are presented. A temporal magnification for the electron-dilation imager between 40 and 60 was inferred from the characterization results. The spatial resolution of the upgraded SLOS-TRXI remains the same in light of this work.