Proof-of-concept Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry with a high-intensity, high-repetition-rate, laser-driven K-alpha source.

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry is a grating-based phase-contrast technique, which enables measurement of refractive index changes in matter with micrometric spatial resolution. The technique has been established using a variety of hard x-ray sources, including synchrotron, free-electron lasers, and x-ray tubes, and could be used in the optical range for low-density plasmas. The tremendous development of table-top high-power lasers makes the use of high-intensity, laser-driven K-alpha sources appealing for Talbot-Lau interferometer applications in both high-energy-density plasma experiments and biological imaging. To this end, we present the first, to the best of our knowledge, feasibility study of Talbot-Lau phase-contrast imaging using a high-repetition-rate laser of moderate energy (100 mJ at a repetition rate of 10 Hz) to irradiate a copper backlighter foil. The results from up to 900 laser pulses were integrated to form interferometric images. A constant fringe contrast of 20% is demonstrated over 100 accumulations, while the signal-to-noise ratio continued to increase with the number of shots. Phase retrieval is demonstrated without prior ex-situ phase stepping. Instead, correlation matrices are used to compensate for the displacement between reference acquisition and the probing of a PMMA target rod. The steps for improved measurements with more energetic laser systems are discussed. The final results are in good agreement with the theoretically predicted outcomes, demonstrating the applicability of this diagnostic to a range of laser facilities for use across several disciplines.

The extreme light infrastructure-nuclear physics (ELI-NP) facility: new horizons in physics with 10 PW ultra-intense lasers and 20 MeV brilliant gamma beams.

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) has selected in 2006 a proposal based on ultra-intense laser fields with intensities reaching up to 1022-1023 W cm-2 called 'ELI' for Extreme Light Infrastructure. The construction of a large-scale laser-centred, distributed pan-European research infrastructure, involving beyond the state-of-the-art ultra-short and ultra-intense laser technologies, received the approval for funding in 2011-2012. The three pillars of the ELI facility are being built in Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. The Romanian pillar is ELI-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP). The new facility is intended to serve a broad national, European and International science community. Its mission covers scientific research at the frontier of knowledge involving two domains. The first one is laser-driven experiments related to nuclear physics, strong-field quantum electrodynamics and associated vacuum effects. The second is based on a Compton backscattering high-brilliance and intense low-energy gamma beam (<20 MeV), a marriage of laser and accelerator technology which will allow us to investigate nuclear structure and reactions as well as nuclear astrophysics with unprecedented resolution and accuracy. In addition to fundamental themes, a large number of applications with significant societal impact are being developed. The ELI-NP research centre will be located in Magurele near Bucharest, Romania. The project is implemented by 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH). The project started in January 2013 and the new facility will be fully operational by the end of 2019. After a short introduction to multi-PW lasers and multi-MeV brilliant gamma beam scientific and technical description of the future ELI-NP facility as well as the present status of its implementation of ELI-NP, will be presented. The science and examples of societal applications at reach with these electromagnetic probes with much improved performances provided at this new facility will be discussed with a special focus on day-one experiments and associated novel instrumentation.

Single-shot Z(eff) dense plasma diagnostic through simultaneous refraction and attenuation measurements with a Talbot-Lau x-ray moiré deflectometer.

The Talbot-Lau x-ray moiré deflectometer is a powerful plasma diagnostic capable of delivering simultaneous refraction and attenuation information through the accurate detection of x-ray phase shift and intensity. The diagnostic can provide the index of refraction n=1-δ+iß of an object (dense plasma, for example) placed in the x-ray beam by independently measuring both δ and ß, which are directly related to the electron density n(e) and the attenuation coefficient µ, respectively. Since δ and ß depend on the effective atomic number Z(eff), a map can be obtained from the ratio between phase and absorption images acquired in a single shot. The Talbot-Lau x-ray moiré deflectometer and its corresponding data acquisition and processing are briefly described to illustrate how the above is achieved; Z(eff) values of test objects within the 4-12 range were obtained experimentally through simultaneous refraction and attenuation measurements. We show that Z(eff) mapping of objects does not require previous knowledge of sample length or shape. The determination of Z(eff) from refraction and attenuation measurements with moiré deflectometry could be of high interest to various domains of high energy density research, such as shocked materials and inertial confinement fusion experiments, as well as material science and nondestructive testing.

Experimental demonstration of ultrahigh sensitivity Talbot-Lau interferometer for low dose mammography.

Objective. Even though the techniques used for breast cancer identification have advanced over the years, current mammography based on x-rays absorption, the 'gold standard' screening test at present, still has some shortcomings as concerns sensitivity and specificity to early-stage cancers, due to poor differentiation between tumor and normal tissues, especially in the case of the dense breasts. We investigate a possible additional technique for breast cancer detection with higher sensitivity and low dose, x-ray phase-contrast or refraction-based imaging with ultrahigh angular sensitivity grating interferometers, having several meters length.Approach.Towards this goal, we built and tested on a mammography phantom, a table-top laboratory setup based on a 5.7 m long Talbot-Lau interferometer with angular sensitivity better than 1µrad. We used a high-power x-ray tungsten anode tube with a 400µm focal spot, operated at 40 kVp and 15 mA with a 2 mm aluminum filter.Main results.The results reported in our paper confirm the ultrahigh sensitivity and dose economy possible with our setup. The visibility of objects simulating cancerous formations is strongly increased in the refraction images over the attenuation ones, even at a low dose of 0.32 mGy. Notably, the smallest fiber of 400µm diameter and calcifications specs of 160µm in diameter are detected, even though the spatial resolution at the object of our magnification M ∼ 2 setup with a 400µm source spot is only ∼250µm.Significance.Our experiments on a mammography phantom illustrate the capabilities of the proposed technique and can open the way toward low-dose interferometric mammography.

Current advances on Talbot-Lau x-ray imaging diagnostics for high energy density experiments (invited).

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry is a refraction-based diagnostic that can map electron density gradients through phase-contrast methods. The Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometry (TXD) diagnostics have been deployed in several high energy density experiments. To improve diagnostic performance, a monochromatic TXD was implemented on the Multi-Tera Watt (MTW) laser using 8 keV multilayer mirrors (Δθ/θ = 4.5%-5.6%). Copper foil and wire targets were irradiated at 1014-1015 W/cm2. Laser pulse length (∼10 to 80 ps) and backlighter target configurations were explored in the context of Moiré fringe contrast and spatial resolution. Foil and wire targets delivered increased contrast <30%. The best spatial resolution (<6 µm) was measured for foils irradiated 80° from the surface. Further TXD diagnostic capability enhancement was achieved through the development of advanced data postprocessing tools. The Talbot Interferometry Analysis (TIA) code enabled x-ray refraction measurements from the MTW monochromatic TXD. Additionally, phase, attenuation, and dark-field maps of an ablating x-pinch load were retrieved through TXD. The images show a dense wire core of ∼60 µm diameter surrounded by low-density material of ∼40 µm thickness with an outer diameter ratio of ∼2.3. Attenuation at 8 keV was measured at ∼20% for the dense core and ∼10% for the low-density material. Instrumental and experimental limitations for monochromatic TXD diagnostics are presented. Enhanced postprocessing capabilities enabled by TIA are demonstrated in the context of high-intensity laser and pulsed power experimental data analysis. Significant advances in TXD diagnostic capabilities are presented. These results inform future diagnostic technique upgrades that will improve the accuracy of plasma characterization through TXD.

Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometer: Refraction-based HEDP imaging diagnostic.

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry has been implemented to map electron density gradients in High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) experiments. X-ray backlighter targets have been evaluated for Talbot-Lau X-ray Deflectometry (TXD). Cu foils, wires, and sphere targets have been irradiated by 10-150 J, 8-30 ps laser pulses, while two pulsed-power generators (∼350 kA, 350 ns and ∼200 kA, 150 ns) have driven Cu wire, hybrid, and laser-cut x-pinches. A plasma ablation front generated by the Omega EP laser was imaged for the first time through TXD for densities >1023 cm-3. Backlighter optimization in combination with x-ray CCD, image plates, and x-ray film has been assessed in terms of spatial resolution and interferometer contrast for accurate plasma characterization through TXD in pulsed-power and high-intensity laser environments. The results obtained thus far demonstrate the potential of TXD as a powerful diagnostic for HEDP.

Implementation of a Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometer diagnostic platform for the OMEGA EP laser.

A Talbot-Lau X-ray Deflectometer (TXD) was implemented in the OMEGA EP laser facility to characterize the evolution of an irradiated foil ablation front by mapping electron densities >1022 cm-3 by means of Moiré deflectometry. The experiment used a short-pulse laser (30-100 J, 10 ps) and a foil copper target as an x-ray backlighter source. In the first experimental tests performed to benchmark the diagnostic platform, grating survival was demonstrated and x-ray backlighter laser parameters that deliver Moiré images were described. The necessary modifications to accurately probe the ablation front through TXD using the EP-TXD diagnostic platform are discussed.

X-ray backlighter requirements for refraction-based electron density diagnostics through Talbot-Lau deflectometry.

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometers can map electron density gradients in High Energy Density (HED) samples. In the deflectometer configuration, it can provide refraction, attenuation, elemental composition, and scatter information from a single image. X-ray backlighters in Talbot-Lau deflectometry must meet specific requirements regarding source size and x-ray spectra, amongst others, to accurately diagnose a wide range of HED experiments. 8 keV sources produced in the high-power laser and pulsed power environment were evaluated as x-ray backlighters for Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometry. In high-power laser experiments, K-shell emission was produced by irradiating copper targets (500 × 500 × 12.5 µm3 foils, 20 µm diameter wire, and >10 µm diameter spheres) with 30 J, 8-30 ps laser pulses and a 25 µm copper wire with a 60 J, 10 ps laser pulse. In the pulsed power environment, single (2 × 40 µm) and double (4 × 25 µm) copper x-pinches were driven at ∼1 kA/ns. Moiré fringe formation was demonstrated for all x-ray sources explored, and detector performance was evaluated for x-ray films, x-ray CCDs, and imaging plates in context of spatial resolution, x-ray emission, and fringe contrast.

Time-dependent analysis of visible helium line-ratios for electron temperature and density diagnostic using synthetic simulations on NSTX-U.

Helium line-ratios for electron temperature (Te) and density (ne) plasma diagnostic in the Scrape-Off-Layer (SOL) and edge regions of tokamaks are widely used. Due to their intensities and proximity of wavelengths, the singlet, 667.8 and 728.1 nm, and triplet, 706.5 nm, visible lines have been typically preferred. Time-dependency of the triplet line (706.5 nm) has been previously analyzed in detail by including transient effects on line-ratios during gas-puff diagnostic applications. In this work, several line-ratio combinations within each of the two spin systems are analyzed with the purpose of eliminating transient effects to extend the application of this powerful diagnostic to high temporal resolution characterization of plasmas. The analysis is done using synthetic emission modeling and diagnostic for low electron density NSTX SOL plasma conditions by several visible lines. Quasi-static equilibrium and time-dependent models are employed to evaluate transient effects of the atomic population levels that may affect the derived electron temperatures and densities as the helium gas-puff penetrates the plasma. The analysis of a wider range of spectral lines will help to extend this powerful diagnostic to experiments where the wavelength range of the measured spectra may be constrained either by limitations of the spectrometer or by other conflicting lines from different ions.

An x-ray backlit Talbot-Lau deflectometer for high-energy-density electron density diagnostics.

X-ray phase-contrast techniques can measure electron density gradients in high-energy-density plasmas through refraction induced phase shifts. An 8 keV Talbot-Lau interferometer consisting of free standing ultrathin gratings was deployed at an ultra-short, high-intensity laser system using K-shell emission from a 1-30 J, 8 ps laser pulse focused on thin Cu foil targets. Grating survival was demonstrated for 30 J, 8 ps laser pulses. The first x-ray deflectometry images obtained under laser backlighting showed up to 25% image contrast and thus enabled detection of electron areal density gradients with a maximum value of 8.1 ± 0.5 × 10(23) cm(-3) in a low-Z millimeter sized sample. An electron density profile was obtained from refraction measurements with an error of <8%. The 50 ± 15 µm spatial resolution achieved across the full field of view was found to be limited by the x-ray source-size, similar to conventional radiography.

Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometer electron density diagnostic for laser and pulsed power high energy density plasma experiments (invited).

Talbot-Lau X-ray deflectometry (TXD) has been developed as an electron density diagnostic for High Energy Density (HED) plasmas. The technique can deliver x-ray refraction, attenuation, elemental composition, and scatter information from a single Moiré image. An 8 keV Talbot-Lau interferometer was deployed using laser and x-pinch backlighters. Grating survival and electron density mapping were demonstrated for 25-29 J, 8-30 ps laser pulses using copper foil targets. Moiré pattern formation and grating survival were also observed using a copper x-pinch driven at 400 kA, ∼1 kA/ns. These results demonstrate the potential of TXD as an electron density diagnostic for HED plasmas.

Multi-energy SXR cameras for magnetically confined fusion plasmas (invited).

A compact multi-energy soft x-ray camera has been developed for time, energy and space-resolved measurements of the soft-x-ray emissivity in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. Multi-energy soft x-ray imaging provides a unique opportunity for measuring, simultaneously, a variety of important plasma properties (Te, nZ, ΔZeff, and ne,fast). The electron temperature can be obtained by modeling the slope of the continuum radiation from ratios of the available brightness and inverted radial emissivity profiles over multiple energy ranges. Impurity density measurements are also possible using the line-emission from medium- to high-Z impurities to separate the background as well as transient levels of metal contributions. This technique should be explored also as a burning plasma diagnostic in-view of its simplicity and robustness.

Moiré deflectometry using the Talbot-Lau interferometer as refraction diagnostic for high energy density plasmas at energies below 10 keV.

The highly localized density gradients expected in High Energy Density (HED) plasma experiments can be characterized by x-ray phase-contrast imaging in addition to conventional attenuation radiography. Moiré deflectometry using the Talbot-Lau grating interferometer setup is an attractive HED diagnostic due to its high sensitivity to refraction induced phase shifts. We report on the adaptation of such a system for operation in the sub-10 keV range by using a combination of free standing and ultrathin Talbot gratings. This new x-ray energy explored matches well the current x-ray backlighters used for HED experiments, while also enhancing phase effects at lower electron densities. We studied the performance of the high magnification, low energy Talbot-Lau interferometer, for single image phase retrieval using Moiré fringe deflectometry. Our laboratory and simulation studies indicate that such a device is able to retrieve object electron densities from phase shift measurements. Using laboratory x-ray sources from 7 to 15 µm size we obtained accurate simultaneous measurements of refraction and attenuation for both sharp and mild electron density gradients.

Boundary displacement measurements using multi-energy soft x-rays.

The Multi-Energy Soft X-ray (ME-SXR) system on NSTX provides radial profiles of soft X-ray emission, measured through a set of filters with varying thickness, which have been used to reconstruct the electron temperature on fast time scales (∼10 kHz). In addition to this functionality, here we show that the ME-SXR system can be used to measure the boundary displacement of the NSTX plasma with a few mm spatial resolution during magnetohydrodyamic (MHD) activity. Boundary displacement measurements can serve to inform theoretical predictions of neoclassical toroidal viscosity, and will be used to investigate other edge phenomena on NSTX-U. For example, boundary measurements using filtered SXR measurements can provide information on pedestal steepness and dynamic evolution leading up to and during edge localized modes (ELMs). Future applications include an assessment of a simplified, filtered SXR edge detection system as well as its suitability for real-time non-magnetic boundary feedback for ELMs, MHD, and equilibrium position control.

High energy x-ray phase contrast CT using glancing-angle grating interferometers.

PURPOSE: The authors present initial progress toward a clinically compatible x-ray phase contrast CT system, using glancing-angle x-ray grating interferometry to provide high contrast soft tissue images at estimated by computer simulation dose levels comparable to conventional absorption based CT. METHODS: DPC-CT scans of a joint phantom and of soft tissues were performed in order to answer several important questions from a clinical setup point of view. A comparison between high and low fringe visibility systems is presented. The standard phase stepping method was compared with sliding window interlaced scanning. Using estimated dose values obtained with a Monte-Carlo code the authors studied the dependence of the phase image contrast on exposure time and dose. RESULTS: Using a glancing angle interferometer at high x-ray energy (∼ 45 keV mean value) in combination with a conventional x-ray tube the authors achieved fringe visibility values of nearly 50%, never reported before. High fringe visibility is shown to be an indispensable parameter for a potential clinical scanner. Sliding window interlaced scanning proved to have higher SNRs and CNRs in a region of interest and to also be a crucial part of a low dose CT system. DPC-CT images of a soft tissue phantom at exposures in the range typical for absorption based CT of musculoskeletal extremities were obtained. Assuming a human knee as the CT target, good soft tissue phase contrast could be obtained at an estimated absorbed dose level around 8 mGy, similar to conventional CT. CONCLUSIONS: DPC-CT with glancing-angle interferometers provides improved soft tissue contrast over absorption CT even at clinically compatible dose levels (estimated by a Monte-Carlo computer simulation). Further steps in image processing, data reconstruction, and spectral matching could make the technique fully clinically compatible. Nevertheless, due to its increased scan time and complexity the technique should be thought of not as replacing, but as complimentary to conventional CT, to be used in specific applications.

High Energy X-ray Phase-Contrast Imaging Using Glancing Angle Grating Interferometers.

The Talbot-Lau grating interferometer enables refraction based imaging with conventional X-ray tubes, offering the promise of a new medical imaging modality. The fringe contrast of the normal incidence interferometer is however insufficient at the >40 keV photon energies needed to penetrate thick body parts, because the thin absorption gratings used in the interferometer become transparent. To solve this problem we developed a new interferometer design using gratings at glancing incidence. For instance, using 120 µm thick Au gratings at 10° incidence we increased several fold the interferometer contrast for a spectrum with ~58 keV mean energy. Tests of DPC-CT at 60-80kVp using glancing angle interferometers and medically relevant samples indicate high potential for clinical applications. A practical design for a slot-scan DPC-CT system for the knee is proposed, using glancing angle gratings tiled on a single substrate.

Glancing angle Talbot-Lau grating interferometers for phase contrast imaging at high x-ray energy.

A Talbot-Lau interferometer is demonstrated using micro-periodic gratings inclined at a glancing angle along the light propagation direction. Due to the increase in the effective thickness of the absorption gratings, the device enables differential phase contrast imaging at high x-ray energy, with improved fringe visibility (contrast). For instance, at 28° glancing angle, we obtain up to ∼35% overall interferometer contrast with a spectrum having ∼43 keV mean energy, suitable for medical applications. In addition, glancing angle interferometers could provide high contrast at energies above 100 keV, enabling industrial and security applications of phase contrast imaging.

Multi-energy x-ray imaging and sensing for diagnostic and control of the burning plasma.

New diagnostic and sensor designs are needed for future burning plasma (BP) fusion experiments, having good space and time resolution and capable of prolonged operation in the harsh BP environment. We evaluate the potential of multi-energy x-ray imaging with filtered detector arrays for BP diagnostic and control. Experimental studies show that this simple and robust technique enables measuring with good accuracy, speed, and spatial resolution the T(e) profile, impurity content, and MHD activity in a tokamak. Applied to the BP this diagnostic could also serve for non-magnetic sensing of the plasma position, centroid, ELM, and RWM instability. BP compatible x-ray sensors are proposed using "optical array" or "bi-cell" detectors.

Compact "diode-based" multi-energy soft x-ray diagnostic for NSTX.

A novel and compact, diode-based, multi-energy soft x-ray (ME-SXR) diagnostic has been developed for the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment. The new edge ME-SXR system tested on NSTX consists of a set of vertically stacked diode arrays, each viewing the plasma tangentially through independent pinholes and filters providing an overlapping view of the plasma midplane which allows simultaneous SXR measurements with coarse sub-sampling of the x-ray spectrum. Using computed x-ray spectral emission data, combinations of filters can provide fast (>10 kHz) measurements of changes in the electron temperature and density profiles providing a method to "fill-in" the gaps of the multi-point Thomson scattering system.

Divertor electron temperature and impurity diffusion measurements with a spectrally resolved imaging radiometer.

A divertor imaging radiometer (DIR) diagnostic is being studied to measure spatially and spectrally resolved radiated power P(rad)(λ) in the tokamak divertor. A dual transmission grating design, with extreme ultraviolet (~20-200 Å) and vacuum ultraviolet (~200-2000 Å) gratings placed side-by-side, can produce coarse spectral resolution over a broad wavelength range covering emission from impurities over a wide temperature range. The DIR can thus be used to evaluate the separate P(rad) contributions from different ion species and charge states. Additionally, synthetic spectra from divertor simulations can be fit to P(rad)(λ) measurements, providing a powerful code validation tool that can also be used to estimate electron divertor temperature and impurity transport.