Single-Shot Electron Radiography Using a Laser-Plasma Accelerator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates single-shot electron radiography using a laser-plasma accelerator, achieving high-resolution images of various materials and analyzing electric field effects during imaging.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of laser-plasma accelerators for contact and projection electron radiography with high spatial resolution.

Findings

Achieved radiographs with 90 micrometer resolution

Probed objects with up to 7.7 g/cm^2 areal density

Observed electric field effects consistent with analytic models

Abstract

Contact and projection electron radiography of static targets was demonstrated using a laser plasma accelerator driven by a kilojoule, picosecond class laser as a source of relativistic electrons with an average energy of 20 MeV. Objects with areal densities as high as 7.7 g/cm^2 were probed in materials ranging from plastic to tungsten, and radiographs with resolution as good as 90 micrometers were produced. The effects of electric fields produced by the laser ablation of the radiography objects were observed and are well described by an analytic expression relating imaging magnification change to electric field strength.