Processing and analysis of x-ray line spectra and multimonochromatic x-ray images for implosion core gradient determination

Spectroscopic modeling and analysis of plasma conditions in inertial confinement fusion implosion cores has been recently extended to characterize gradients of temperature and density. The spectroscopic method employed here utilizes simultaneous x-ray line spectra and x-ray monochromatic images from a series of indirect drive experiments performed at the OMEGA laser facility of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Argon K-shell x-ray line spectra were measured with streak crystal spectrometers, and two x-ray monochromatic imagers recorded Ar Heβ and Lyβ lines and continuum images. Software tools were designed in IDL to conveniently and objectively process the data. The spectroscopic analysis uses the results of this data processing to determine the temperature and density gradients using either multi-objective data analysis or narrow-band emissivity ratios. This next step in the x-ray spectroscopy of implosion cores results in an improved description of core plasma conditions.