Z-Beamlet (ZBL) Multi-Frame Back-lighter (MFB) System for ICF/Plasma Diagnostics

Caird, J A
Erlandson, A C
Molander, W A
Murray, J E
Robertson, G K
Smith, I C
Sinars, D B
Porter, J L

Publication date

September 2005

Publisher

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Abstract

Z-Beamlet [1] is a single-beam high-energy Nd:glass laser used for backlighting high energy density (HED) plasma physics experiments at Sandia's Z-accelerator facility. The system currently generates a single backlit image per experiment, and has been employed on approximately 50% of Z-accelerator system shots in recent years. We have designed and are currently building a system that uses Z-Beamlet to generate two distinct backlit images with adjustable time delay ranging from 2 to 20 ns between frames. The new system will double the rate of data collection and allow the temporal evolution of high energy density phenomena to be recorded on a single shot