High-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of dense plasmas using multilayer x-ray optics

Instruments incorporating normal-incidence mirrors and gratings have been used to record images and spectra in the extreme u.v. and soft x-ray regions. The multilayer coatings were optimized to reflect wavebands of interest for the diagnosis of dense plasmas. Images at wavelengths of 33.8 and 130 A were recorded with spatial resolution of 5 μm. Using normal-incidence multilayer gratings operating in the wavelength region 130–300 A, spectra with resolution of 14,000 were recorded which allows the use of line profiles to determine Doppler plasma motion an Stark densities. Because of the high throughput of the multilayer optics, the instruments can be located at large distances from the plasmas, and the optics were undamaged by the intense radiation and debris fluxes from laser-produced plasmas. The absolute radiation flux was determined at wavelengths of 33.8 and 130 A.