Calibration and characterization of optical and x-ray streak cameras using a Ti:Sapphire laser system

Optical and x-ray streak cameras are used to study transient phenomena, particularly in the high-energy density physics regime. The Orion laser facility employs many different types of streak cameras, which are used to collect data on laser-plasma interactions as well as to verify the temporal profi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2024-07, Vol.95 (7)
Main Authors: Penman, R. R., Marshall, G., Pitt, S. F., Oades, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Calibration
Cameras
Data collection
Glass lasers
Laser plasma interactions
Lasers
Neodymium lasers
Photomultiplier tubes
Plasma interactions
Sapphire
Short pulses
Streak cameras
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Summary:Optical and x-ray streak cameras are used to study transient phenomena, particularly in the high-energy density physics regime. The Orion laser facility employs many different types of streak cameras, which are used to collect data on laser-plasma interactions as well as to verify the temporal profile and timing between the multiple Orion beamlines. Streak cameras are complex devices with very precise timing associated with them, which can often malfunction, resulting in the loss of shot data. Since Orion is a kJ-class Nd:glass laser system, it is not optimal to try and fault-find using Orion shots since this is both time consuming and prohibitively expensive. To enable the facile set-up, fault-finding, timing-in, and in-house calibration of Orion optical and x-ray diagnostics, a single laboratory system has been commissioned to provide an adjustable stimulus to streak cameras and other Orion short pulse diagnostics (such as pulse dilation photomultiplier tubes). The system comprises a Ti:Sapphire laser system capable of generating 400 nm or 266 nm laser pulses of duration less than 0.1 ps; an optical system to deliver single pulses, pulse pairs, or a train of pulses; and timing electronics to synchronize the streak cameras with the laser and to record output data. The system can operate at Hertz repetition rates rather than the sub-mHz rate of the Orion laser. We present the commissioned system and results from initial testing of both optical and x-ray streak cameras used on Orion laser-plasma experiments.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/5.0213723