Characterization of mono-energetic charged-particle radiography for high energy density physics experiments

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-76).Charged-particle radiography, specifically protons and alphas, has recently been used to image various High-Energy-Density Physics objects of interest, including Inertial Confinement Fusion capsules during their implosions, Laser-Plasma Interactions, and Rayleigh-Taylorinstability growth. An imploded D23He-filled glass capsule - the backlighter - provides monoenergetic 15-MeV and 3-MeV protons and 3.6-MeV alphas for radiographing these various phenomena. Because the backlighter emits mono-energetic particles, information about areal density and electromagnetic fields in imaged systems can be obtained simultaneously. One of the most important characteristics of the backlighter is the fusion product yield, so understanding the experiment parameters that affect it is essential to the future of chargedparticle radiography. Empirical studies of backlighter performance under a variety of conditions are presented, along with proton yield parameterizations based on backlighter and laser parameters. In order to investigate the limits and capabilities of this diagnostic, the Geant4 Transport Toolkit is introduced as the supplementary simulation tool to accompany this novel diagnostic; benchmark simulations with experimental data are presented.by Mario John-Errol Manuel.S.M