The Phase-Contrast Imaging Instrument at the Matter in Extreme Conditions Endstation at LCLS

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Phase-Contrast Imaging instrument at LCLS's MEC endstation, capable of high-resolution, ultrafast imaging of extreme state phenomena like shock fronts and phase transitions.

Contribution

It details the design, capabilities, and commissioning of a novel imaging instrument tailored for high-energy-density science at LCLS.

Findings

Achieves spatial resolution of a few hundred nanometers.

Temporal resolution better than 100 femtoseconds.

Enables real-time imaging of dynamic extreme phenomena.

Abstract

We describe the Phase-Contrast Imaging instrument at the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) endstation of the Linac Coherent Light Source. The instrument can image phenomena with a spatial resolution of a few hundreds of nanometers and at the same time reveal the atomic structure through X-ray diffraction, with a temporal resolution better than 100 femtosecond. It was specifically designed for studies relevant to High-Energy-Density Science and can monitor, e.g., shock fronts, phase transitions, or void collapses. This versatile instrument was commissioned last year and is now available to the MEC user community.