Experimental investigation of fast electron transport in solid density matter: Recent results from a new technique of X-ray energy-encoded 2D imaging

AbstractThe development activity of a new experimental technique for the study of the fast electron transport in high density matter is reported. This new diagnostic tool enables the X-ray 2D imaging of ultrahigh intensity laser plasmas with simultaneous spectral resolution in a very large energy range to be obtained. Results from recent experiments are discussed, in which the electron propagation in multilayer targets was studied by using the Kα. In particular, results highlighting the role of anisotropic Bremsstrahlung are reported, for the sake of the explanation of the capabilities of the new diagnostics. A discussion of a test experiment conceived to extend the technique to a single-shot operation is finally given

Evidence of high-n hollow ion emission from Si ions pumped by ultraintense x-rays from relativistic laser plasma

We report on the first observation of high-n hollow ions (ions having no electrons in the K or L shells) produced in Si targets via pumping by ultra-intense x-ray radiation produced in intense laser-plasma interactions reaching the radiation dominant kinetics regime. The existence of these new types of hollow ions in high energy density plasma has been found via observation of highly-resolved x-ray emission spectra of silicon plasma, and confirmed by plasma kinetics calculations, underscoring the ability of powerful radiation sources to fully strip electrons from the inner-most shells of light atoms. Hollow ions spectral diagnostics provide a unique opportunity to characterize powerful x-ray radiation of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas

X-ray dichroism in polyimide caused by non-resonant scattering

Dichroism is one of the most important optical effects in both the visible and the X‐ray range. Besides absorption, scattering can also contribute to dichroism. This paper demonstrates that, based on the example of polyimide, materials can show tiny dichroism even far from electronic resonances due to scattering. Although the effect is small, it can lead to a measurable polarization change and might have influence on highly sensitive polarimetric experiments.Aligned molecules, for example in polyimide foils, lead to small dichroism even far from resonances, which can be revealed by high‐precision X‐ray polarimetry. imag

GermanTeam 2001

The GermanTeam is the successor of the Humboldt Heroes who already participated in the Sony Legged Robot League competitions in 1999 and 2000. Because of the strong interest of other German universities, in March 2001, the GermanTeam was founded. It consists of students and researchers of five universities: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universität Bremen, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Universität Dortmund, and Freie Universität Berlin. However, for the system presented in this document, the Humbold Heroes only had reinforcements from Bremen and Darmstadt. The two other universities will actively participate with the beginning of the winter semester

Scanning high-sensitive x-ray polarization microscopy

We report on the realization of an extremely sensitive x-ray polarization microscope, allowing to detect tiniest polarization changes of 1 in 100 billion (10−11) with a μm-size focused beam. The extreme degree of polarization purity places the most stringent requirements on the orientation of the polarizer and analyzer crystals as well as the composition and the form fidelity of the lenses, which must not exhibit any birefringence. The results show that these requirements are currently only met by polymer lenses. Highly sensitive scanning x-ray polarization microscopy thus is established as a new method. It can provide new insights in a wide range of applications ranging from quantum electrodynamics and quantum optics to x-ray spectroscopy, materials research, and laser physics

Scanning high-sensitive x-ray polarization microscopy

We report on the realization of an extremely sensitive x-ray polarization microscope, allowing to detect tiniest polarization changes of 1 in 100 billion (10−11) with a μm-size focused beam. The extreme degree of polarization purity places the most stringent requirements on the orientation of the polarizer and analyzer crystals as well as the composition and the form fidelity of the lenses, which must not exhibit any birefringence. The results show that these requirements are currently only met by polymer lenses. Highly sensitive scanning x-ray polarization microscopy thus is established as a new method. It can provide new insights in a wide range of applications ranging from quantum electrodynamics and quantum optics to x-ray spectroscopy, materials research, and laser physics