1
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Curcio A, Cianchi A, Costa G, Del Dotto A, Demurtas F, Ferrario M, Frías MDR, Galletti M, Pérez-Hernández JA, Gatti G. Reconstruction of lateral coherence and 2D emittance in plasma betatron X-ray sources. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1719. [PMID: 38243043 PMCID: PMC10799011 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52231-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
X-ray sources have a strong social impact, being implemented for biomedical research, material and environmental sciences. Nowadays, compact and accessible sources are made using lasers. We report evidence of nontrivial spectral-angular correlations in a laser-driven betatron X-ray source. Furthermore, by angularly-resolved spectral measurements, we detect the signature of spatial phase modulations by the electron trajectories. This allows the lateral coherence function to be retrieved, leading to the evaluation of the coherence area of the source, determining its brightness. Finally, the proposed methodology allows the unprecedented reconstruction of the size of the X-ray source and the electron beam emittance in the two main emission planes in a single shot. This information will be of fundamental interest for user applications of new radiation sources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandro Cianchi
- Department of Physics, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- INFN-Tor Vergata, Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- NAST Centre, Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gemma Costa
- INFN-LNF, via Enrico Fermi 40, 00044, Frascati, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Maria Dolores Rodríguez Frías
- Centro de Laseres Pulsados (CLPU), Edificio M5, Parque Científico, C/ Adaja 8, 37185, Villamayor, Salamanca, Spain
- Dpto. Física y Matemáticas, Universidad de Alcalá, Plaza de San Diego, s/n Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Galletti
- Department of Physics, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- INFN-Tor Vergata, Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- NAST Centre, Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - José Antonio Pérez-Hernández
- Centro de Laseres Pulsados (CLPU), Edificio M5, Parque Científico, C/ Adaja 8, 37185, Villamayor, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Giancarlo Gatti
- Centro de Laseres Pulsados (CLPU), Edificio M5, Parque Científico, C/ Adaja 8, 37185, Villamayor, Salamanca, Spain
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2
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Doherty A, Fourmaux S, Astolfo A, Ziesche R, Wood J, Finlay O, Stolp W, Batey D, Manke I, Légaré F, Boone M, Symes D, Najmudin Z, Endrizzi M, Olivo A, Cipiccia S. Femtosecond multimodal imaging with a laser-driven X-ray source. COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS 2023; 6:288. [PMID: 38665412 PMCID: PMC11041725 DOI: 10.1038/s42005-023-01412-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Laser-plasma accelerators are compact linear accelerators based on the interaction of high-power lasers with plasma to form accelerating structures up to 1000 times smaller than standard radiofrequency cavities, and they come with an embedded X-ray source, namely betatron source, with unique properties: small source size and femtosecond pulse duration. A still unexplored possibility to exploit the betatron source comes from combining it with imaging methods able to encode multiple information like transmission and phase into a single-shot acquisition approach. In this work, we combine edge illumination-beam tracking (EI-BT) with a betatron X-ray source and present the demonstration of multimodal imaging (transmission, refraction, and scattering) with a compact light source down to the femtosecond timescale. The advantage of EI-BT is that it allows multimodal X-ray imaging technique, granting access to transmission, refraction and scattering signals from standard low-coherence laboratory X-ray sources in a single shot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Doherty
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, 2 Malet Pl, London, WC1E 7JE UK
| | - Sylvain Fourmaux
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique—Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, J3X 1P7 QC Canada
| | - Alberto Astolfo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, 2 Malet Pl, London, WC1E 7JE UK
| | - Ralf Ziesche
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie Hahn Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan Wood
- The John Adam Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BW UK
| | - Oliver Finlay
- Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX UK
| | - Wiebe Stolp
- UGCT-RP, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Darren Batey
- Diamond Light Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX UK
| | - Ingo Manke
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie Hahn Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - François Légaré
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique—Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, J3X 1P7 QC Canada
| | - Matthieu Boone
- UGCT-RP, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dan Symes
- Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX UK
| | - Zulfikar Najmudin
- The John Adam Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BW UK
| | - Marco Endrizzi
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, 2 Malet Pl, London, WC1E 7JE UK
| | - Alessandro Olivo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, 2 Malet Pl, London, WC1E 7JE UK
| | - Silvia Cipiccia
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, 2 Malet Pl, London, WC1E 7JE UK
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3
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Rakowski R, Zhang P, Jensen K, Kettle B, Kawamoto T, Banerjee S, Fruhling C, Golovin G, Haden D, Robinson MS, Umstadter D, Shadwick BA, Fuchs M. Transverse oscillating bubble enhanced laser-driven betatron X-ray radiation generation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10855. [PMID: 35760934 PMCID: PMC9237036 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14748-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrafast high-brightness X-ray pulses have proven invaluable for a broad range of research. Such pulses are typically generated via synchrotron emission from relativistic electron bunches using large-scale facilities. Recently, significantly more compact X-ray sources based on laser-wakefield accelerated (LWFA) electron beams have been demonstrated. In particular, laser-driven sources, where the radiation is generated by transverse oscillations of electrons within the plasma accelerator structure (so-called betatron oscillations) can generate highly-brilliant ultrashort X-ray pulses using a comparably simple setup. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a method to markedly enhance the parameters of LWFA-driven betatron X-ray emission in a proof-of-principle experiment. We show a significant increase in the number of generated photons by specifically manipulating the amplitude of the betatron oscillations by using our novel Transverse Oscillating Bubble Enhanced Betatron Radiation scheme. We realize this through an orchestrated evolution of the temporal laser pulse shape and the accelerating plasma structure. This leads to controlled off-axis injection of electrons that perform large-amplitude collective transverse betatron oscillations, resulting in increased radiation emission. Our concept holds the promise for a method to optimize the X-ray parameters for specific applications, such as time-resolved investigations with spatial and temporal atomic resolution or advanced high-resolution imaging modalities, and the generation of X-ray beams with even higher peak and average brightness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Rakowski
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Kyle Jensen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Brendan Kettle
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Tim Kawamoto
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Sudeep Banerjee
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Colton Fruhling
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Grigory Golovin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Daniel Haden
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Matthew S Robinson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Donald Umstadter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - B A Shadwick
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Matthias Fuchs
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
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4
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Martín L, Benlliure J, Cortina-Gil D, Haruna A, Ruiz C. Validation of a laser driven plasma X-ray microfocus source for high resolution radiography imaging. Phys Med 2021; 82:163-170. [PMID: 33640836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hard X-ray radiation with high brightness and high fluxes is nowadays available on the fourth generation of synchrotrons and X-FELs, but the large size and complexity of these sources makes its use difficult for widespread applications. New table top X-ray sources driven by ultrashort high power lasers offer a compelling route to expand the availability of hard X-ray sources. They can be used for advanced imaging techniques, due to its small source size and spatial coherence. We present in this paper the validation of a compact laser-driven X-ray microfocus source for high-resolution radiography imaging. This novel device was built at the Laser Laboratory for Acceleration and Applications (L2A2) at the University of Santiago de Compostela. This paper describes the laser-plasma X-ray source with improved stability and characterize some of its properties. We demonstrate the high-contrast and resolution of the images obtained with this source by using masks with well known geometries, and detailed analysis by using the modulation transfer function. Finally, we discuss the properties of this source in comparison to other compact microfocus X-ray sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Martín
- IGFAE, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - J Benlliure
- IGFAE, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - D Cortina-Gil
- IGFAE, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - A Haruna
- IGFAE, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - C Ruiz
- Instituto de Física Fundamental y Matemáticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain
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5
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Fourmaux S, Hallin E, Krol A, Bourgade JL, Kieffer JC. X-ray phase contrast imaging of spherical capsules. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:13978-13990. [PMID: 32403862 DOI: 10.1364/oe.386618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that a laser-based synchrotron X-ray source can be used to image and characterize in a single laser shot spherical capsules similar to ICF targets. Thus, we establish this source potential for real-time ultrafast imaging of the ICF laser driver interaction with the target. To produce the X-ray beam we used a 160 TW high power laser system with 3.2 J and 20 fs incident on a supersonic gas jet target at 2.5 Hz repetition rate. We produced 2.7 × 109 photons/0.1% BW/sr/shot at 10 keV with a critical energy Ec = 15.1 keV. In our experimental conditions the spatial resolution was 4.3 μm in the object plane. We show that it is feasible to image the capsule structure and experimentally retrieve the phase information.
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6
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Fourmaux S, Hallin E, Chaulagain U, Weber S, Kieffer JC. Laser-based synchrotron X-ray radiation experimental scaling. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:3147-3158. [PMID: 32121988 DOI: 10.1364/oe.383818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We review the results obtained in several experimental campaigns with the INRS high-power laser system and determine the X-ray emission scaling from synchrotron radiation produced during laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) of electrons. The physical processes affecting the generation of intense and stable X-ray beams during the propagation phase of the high-intensity ultrashort pulse in the gas jet target are discussed. We successfully produced stable propagation in the gas jet target of a relativistic laser pulse through self-guiding on length larger than the dephasing and depletion lengths, generating very intense beams of hard X-rays with up to 200 TW on target. The experimental scaling law obtained for the photon yield in the 10-40 keV range is presented and the level of X-ray emission at the 1 PW laser peak power level, now available at several laser facilities, is estimated.
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7
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High-resolution phase-contrast imaging of biological specimens using a stable betatron X-ray source in the multiple-exposure mode. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7796. [PMID: 31127147 PMCID: PMC6534593 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42834-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Phase-contrast imaging using X-ray sources with high spatial coherence is an emerging tool in biology and material science. Much of this research is being done using large synchrotron facilities or relatively low-flux microfocus X-ray tubes. An alternative high-flux, ultra-short and high-spatial-coherence table-top X-ray source based on betatron motions of electrons in laser wakefield accelerators has the promise to produce high quality images. In previous phase-contrast imaging studies with betatron sources, single-exposure images with a spatial resolution of 6-70 μm were reported by using large-scale laser systems (60-200 TW). Furthermore, images obtained with multiple exposures tended to have a reduced contrast and resolution due to the shot-to-shot fluctuations. In this article, we demonstrate that a highly stable multiple-exposure betatron source, with an effective average source size of 5 μm, photon number and pointing jitters of <5% and spectral fluctuation of <10%, can be obtained by utilizing ionization injection in pure nitrogen plasma using a 30-40 TW laser. Using this source, high quality phase-contrast images of biological specimens with a 5-μm resolution are obtained for the first time. This work shows a way for the application of high resolution phase-contrast imaging with stable betatron sources using modest power, high repetition-rate lasers.
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8
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Hussein AE, Senabulya N, Ma Y, Streeter MJV, Kettle B, Dann SJD, Albert F, Bourgeois N, Cipiccia S, Cole JM, Finlay O, Gerstmayr E, González IG, Higginbotham A, Jaroszynski DA, Falk K, Krushelnick K, Lemos N, Lopes NC, Lumsdon C, Lundh O, Mangles SPD, Najmudin Z, Rajeev PP, Schlepütz CM, Shahzad M, Smid M, Spesyvtsev R, Symes DR, Vieux G, Willingale L, Wood JC, Shahani AJ, Thomas AGR. Laser-wakefield accelerators for high-resolution X-ray imaging of complex microstructures. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3249. [PMID: 30824838 PMCID: PMC6397215 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39845-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) are high acceleration-gradient plasma-based particle accelerators capable of producing ultra-relativistic electron beams. Within the strong focusing fields of the wakefield, accelerated electrons undergo betatron oscillations, emitting a bright pulse of X-rays with a micrometer-scale source size that may be used for imaging applications. Non-destructive X-ray phase contrast imaging and tomography of heterogeneous materials can provide insight into their processing, structure, and performance. To demonstrate the imaging capability of X-rays from an LWFA we have examined an irregular eutectic in the aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) system. The lamellar spacing of the Al-Si eutectic microstructure is on the order of a few micrometers, thus requiring high spatial resolution. We present comparisons between the sharpness and spatial resolution in phase contrast images of this eutectic alloy obtained via X-ray phase contrast imaging at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) synchrotron and X-ray projection microscopy via an LWFA source. An upper bound on the resolving power of 2.7 ± 0.3 μm of the LWFA source in this experiment was measured. These results indicate that betatron X-rays from laser wakefield acceleration can provide an alternative to conventional synchrotron sources for high resolution imaging of eutectics and, more broadly, complex microstructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Hussein
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA.
| | - N Senabulya
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA
| | - Y Ma
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA.,Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK.,The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK
| | - M J V Streeter
- Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK.,The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK.,The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - B Kettle
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - S J D Dann
- Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK.,The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK
| | - F Albert
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - N Bourgeois
- Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - S Cipiccia
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - J M Cole
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - O Finlay
- Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK.,The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK
| | - E Gerstmayr
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - A Higginbotham
- York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - D A Jaroszynski
- The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK.,SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - K Falk
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany.,Institute of Physics of the ASCR, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - K Krushelnick
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA
| | - N Lemos
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - N C Lopes
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, U.L., Lisboa, 1049-001, Portugal
| | - C Lumsdon
- York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - O Lundh
- Department of Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, S-22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - S P D Mangles
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Z Najmudin
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - P P Rajeev
- Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - C M Schlepütz
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - M Shahzad
- The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK.,SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - M Smid
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - R Spesyvtsev
- The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK.,SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - D R Symes
- Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - G Vieux
- The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK.,SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - L Willingale
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA
| | - J C Wood
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - A J Shahani
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA
| | - A G R Thomas
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA.,Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK.,The Cockcroft Institute, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD, UK
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9
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Svendsen K, González IG, Hansson M, Svensson JB, Ekerfelt H, Persson A, Lundh O. Optimization of soft X-ray phase-contrast tomography using a laser wakefield accelerator. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:33930-33941. [PMID: 30650824 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.033930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
X-ray phase-contrast imaging allows for non-invasive analysis in low-absorbing materials, such as soft tissue. Its application in medical or materials science has yet to be realized on a wider scale due to the requirements on the X-ray source, demanding high flux and small source size. Laser wakefield accelerators generate betatron X-rays fulfilling these criteria and can be suitable sources for phase-contrast imaging. In this work, we present the first phase-contrast images obtained by using ionization injection-based laser wakefield acceleration, which results in a higher photon yield and smoother X-ray beam profile compared to self-injection. A peak photon yield of 1.9 × 1011 ph/sr and a source size of 3 μm were estimated. Furthermore, the current laser parameters produce an X-ray spectrum mainly in the soft X-ray range, in which laser-plasma based phase-contrast imaging had yet to be studied. The phase-contrast images of a Chrysopa lacewing resolve features on the order of 4 μm. These images are further used for a tomographic reconstruction and a volume rendering, showing details on the order of tens of μm.
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10
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Azamoum Y, Clady R, Ferré A, Gambari M, Utéza O, Sentis M. High photon flux Kα Mo x-ray source driven by a multi-terawatt femtosecond laser at 100 Hz. OPTICS LETTERS 2018; 43:3574-3577. [PMID: 30067627 DOI: 10.1364/ol.43.003574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We develop a pulsed hard x-ray Kα source at 17.4 keV produced by the interaction of a multi-terawatt peak power infrared femtosecond laser pulse with a thick molybdenum (Mo) target at a 100 Hz repetition rate. We measure the highest Mo Kα photon production reported to date corresponding to a Kα photon flux of 1×1011 ph/(sr·s) and an estimated peak brightness of ∼2.5×1017 ph/(s·mm2·mrad2(0.1% bandwidth)) at ∼5×1018 W/cm2 driving laser intensity.
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11
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Ultrafast Imaging of Laser Driven Shock Waves using Betatron X-rays from a Laser Wakefield Accelerator. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11010. [PMID: 30030516 PMCID: PMC6054639 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29347-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Betatron radiation from laser wakefield accelerators is an ultrashort pulsed source of hard, synchrotron-like x-ray radiation. It emanates from a centimetre scale plasma accelerator producing GeV level electron beams. In recent years betatron radiation has been developed as a unique source capable of producing high resolution x-ray images in compact geometries. However, until now, the short pulse nature of this radiation has not been exploited. This report details the first experiment to utilize betatron radiation to image a rapidly evolving phenomenon by using it to radiograph a laser driven shock wave in a silicon target. The spatial resolution of the image is comparable to what has been achieved in similar experiments at conventional synchrotron light sources. The intrinsic temporal resolution of betatron radiation is below 100 fs, indicating that significantly faster processes could be probed in future without compromising spatial resolution. Quantitative measurements of the shock velocity and material density were made from the radiographs recorded during shock compression and were consistent with the established shock response of silicon, as determined with traditional velocimetry approaches. This suggests that future compact betatron imaging beamlines could be useful in the imaging and diagnosis of high-energy-density physics experiments.
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12
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Cole JM, Symes DR, Lopes NC, Wood JC, Poder K, Alatabi S, Botchway SW, Foster PS, Gratton S, Johnson S, Kamperidis C, Kononenko O, De Lazzari M, Palmer CAJ, Rusby D, Sanderson J, Sandholzer M, Sarri G, Szoke-Kovacs Z, Teboul L, Thompson JM, Warwick JR, Westerberg H, Hill MA, Norris DP, Mangles SPD, Najmudin Z. High-resolution μCT of a mouse embryo using a compact laser-driven X-ray betatron source. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:6335-6340. [PMID: 29871946 PMCID: PMC6016801 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1802314115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the field of X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) there is a growing need to reduce acquisition times at high spatial resolution (approximate micrometers) to facilitate in vivo and high-throughput operations. The state of the art represented by synchrotron light sources is not practical for certain applications, and therefore the development of high-brightness laboratory-scale sources is crucial. We present here imaging of a fixed embryonic mouse sample using a compact laser-plasma-based X-ray light source and compare the results to images obtained using a commercial X-ray μCT scanner. The radiation is generated by the betatron motion of electrons inside a dilute and transient plasma, which circumvents the flux limitations imposed by the solid or liquid anodes used in conventional electron-impact X-ray tubes. This X-ray source is pulsed (duration <30 fs), bright (>1010 photons per pulse), small (diameter <1 μm), and has a critical energy >15 keV. Stable X-ray performance enabled tomographic imaging of equivalent quality to that of the μCT scanner, an important confirmation of the suitability of the laser-driven source for applications. The X-ray flux achievable with this approach scales with the laser repetition rate without compromising the source size, which will allow the recording of high-resolution μCT scans in minutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Cole
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R Symes
- Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom;
| | - Nelson C Lopes
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Group of Lasers and Plasmas (GoLP)/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisboa 1049-001, Portugal
| | - Jonathan C Wood
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Kristjan Poder
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Saleh Alatabi
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Stanley W Botchway
- Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Peta S Foster
- Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Gratton
- Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Johnson
- The Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Christos Kamperidis
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Extreme Light Infrastructure Attosecond Light Pulse Source (ELI-ALPS), ELI-HU Non-profit Ltd., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Olena Kononenko
- Linear Accelerator Technologies, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael De Lazzari
- Cancer Research UK/Medical Research Council (CRUK/MRC) Oxford Institute for Radiation Research, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte A J Palmer
- Linear Accelerator Technologies, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dean Rusby
- Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy Sanderson
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell Institute, Harwell OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Sandholzer
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell Institute, Harwell OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Gianluca Sarri
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lydia Teboul
- The Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - James M Thompson
- Cancer Research UK/Medical Research Council (CRUK/MRC) Oxford Institute for Radiation Research, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Warwick
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - Henrik Westerberg
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell Institute, Harwell OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Hill
- Cancer Research UK/Medical Research Council (CRUK/MRC) Oxford Institute for Radiation Research, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic P Norris
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell Institute, Harwell OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart P D Mangles
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Zulfikar Najmudin
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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13
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Mo MZ, Chen Z, Fourmaux S, Saraf A, Kerr S, Otani K, Masoud R, Kieffer JC, Tsui Y, Ng A, Fedosejevs R. Measurements of ionization states in warm dense aluminum with betatron radiation. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:053208. [PMID: 28618605 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.053208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Time-resolved measurements of the ionization states of warm dense aluminum via K-shell absorption spectroscopy are demonstrated using betatron radiation generated from laser wakefield acceleration as a probe. The warm dense aluminum is generated by irradiating a free-standing nanofoil with a femtosecond optical laser pulse and was heated to an electron temperature of ∼20-25 eV at a close-to-solid mass density. Absorption dips in the transmitted x-ray spectrum due to the Al^{4+} and Al^{5+} ions are clearly seen during the experiments. The measured absorption spectra are compared to simulations with various ionization potential depression models, including the commonly used Stewart-Pyatt model and an alternative modified Ecker-Kröll model. The observed absorption spectra are in approximate agreement with these models, though indicating a slightly higher state of ionization and closer agreement for simulations with the modified Ecker-Kröll model.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Z Mo
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2V4
| | - Z Chen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2V4
| | - S Fourmaux
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebéc, Canada, J3X 1S2
| | - A Saraf
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebéc, Canada, J3X 1S2
| | - S Kerr
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2V4
| | - K Otani
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebéc, Canada, J3X 1S2
| | - R Masoud
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2V4
| | - J-C Kieffer
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Quebéc, Canada, J3X 1S2
| | - Y Tsui
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2V4
| | - A Ng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z1
| | - R Fedosejevs
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2V4
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14
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Albert F, Lemos N, Shaw JL, Pollock BB, Goyon C, Schumaker W, Saunders AM, Marsh KA, Pak A, Ralph JE, Martins JL, Amorim LD, Falcone RW, Glenzer SH, Moody JD, Joshi C. Observation of Betatron X-Ray Radiation in a Self-Modulated Laser Wakefield Accelerator Driven with Picosecond Laser Pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:134801. [PMID: 28409970 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.134801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigate a new regime for betatron x-ray emission that utilizes kilojoule-class picosecond lasers to drive wakes in plasmas. When such laser pulses with intensities of ∼5×10^{18} W/cm^{2} are focused into plasmas with electron densities of ∼1×10^{19} cm^{-3}, they undergo self-modulation and channeling, which accelerates electrons up to 200 MeV energies and causes those electrons to emit x rays. The measured x-ray spectra are fit with a synchrotron spectrum with a critical energy of 10-20 keV, and 2D particle-in-cell simulations were used to model the acceleration and radiation of the electrons in our experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Albert
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - N Lemos
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - J L Shaw
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - B B Pollock
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - C Goyon
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - W Schumaker
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford, California 94309, USA
| | - A M Saunders
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - K A Marsh
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - A Pak
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - J E Ralph
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - J L Martins
- GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - L D Amorim
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - R W Falcone
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - S H Glenzer
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford, California 94309, USA
| | - J D Moody
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF and Photon Sciences, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - C Joshi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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15
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A compact tunable polarized X-ray source based on laser-plasma helical undulators. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29101. [PMID: 27377126 PMCID: PMC4932604 DOI: 10.1038/srep29101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser wakefield accelerators have great potential as the basis for next generation compact radiation sources because of their extremely high accelerating gradients. However, X-ray radiation from such devices still lacks tunability, especially of the intensity and polarization distributions. Here we propose a tunable polarized radiation source based on a helical plasma undulator in a plasma channel guided wakefield accelerator. When a laser pulse is initially incident with a skew angle relative to the channel axis, the laser and accelerated electrons experience collective spiral motions, which leads to elliptically polarized synchrotron-like radiation with flexible tunability on radiation intensity, spectra and polarization. We demonstrate that a radiation source with millimeter size and peak brilliance of 2 × 10(19) photons/s/mm(2)/mrad(2)/0.1% bandwidth can be made with moderate laser and electron beam parameters. This brilliance is comparable with third generation synchrotron radiation facilities running at similar photon energies, suggesting that laser plasma based radiation sources are promising for advanced applications.
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16
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Effect of experimental laser imperfections on laser wakefield acceleration and betatron source. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27846. [PMID: 27324915 PMCID: PMC4914997 DOI: 10.1038/srep27846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser pulses in current ultra-short TW systems are far from being ideal Gaussian beams. The influence of the presence of non-Gaussian features of the laser pulse is investigated here from experiments and 3D Particle-in-Cell simulations. Both the experimental intensity distribution and wavefront are used as input in the simulations. It is shown that a quantitative agreement between experimental data and simulations requires to use realistic pulse features. Moreover, some trends found in the experiments, such as the growing of the X-ray signal with the plasma length, can only be retrieved in simulations with realistic pulses. The performances on the electron acceleration and the synchrotron X-ray emission are strongly degraded by these non-Gaussian features, even keeping constant the total laser energy. A drop on the X-ray photon number by one order of magnitude was found. This clearly put forward the limitation of using a Gaussian beam in the simulations.
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17
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Golovin G, Banerjee S, Liu C, Chen S, Zhang J, Zhao B, Zhang P, Veale M, Wilson M, Seller P, Umstadter D. Intrinsic beam emittance of laser-accelerated electrons measured by x-ray spectroscopic imaging. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24622. [PMID: 27090440 PMCID: PMC4835856 DOI: 10.1038/srep24622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent combination of ultra-intense lasers and laser-accelerated electron beams is enabling the development of a new generation of compact x-ray light sources, the coherence of which depends directly on electron beam emittance. Although the emittance of accelerated electron beams can be low, it can grow due to the effects of space charge during free-space propagation. Direct experimental measurement of this important property is complicated by micron-scale beam sizes, and the presence of intense fields at the location where space charge acts. Reported here is a novel, non-destructive, single-shot method that overcame this problem. It employed an intense laser probe pulse, and spectroscopic imaging of the inverse-Compton scattered x-rays, allowing measurement of an ultra-low value for the normalized transverse emittance, 0.15 (±0.06) π mm mrad, as well as study of its subsequent growth upon exiting the accelerator. The technique and results are critical for designing multi-stage laser-wakefield accelerators, and generating high-brightness, spatially coherent x-rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Golovin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - S. Banerjee
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - C. Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - S. Chen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - J. Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - B. Zhao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - P. Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - M. Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - M. Wilson
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - P. Seller
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - D. Umstadter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
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18
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Aloisio IA, Paganin DM, Wright CA, Morgan KS. Exploring experimental parameter choice for rapid speckle-tracking phase-contrast X-ray imaging with a paper analyzer. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2015; 22:1279-1288. [PMID: 26289280 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577515011406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Phase-contrast X-ray imaging using a paper analyzer enables the visualization of X-ray transparent biological structures using the refractive properties of the sample. The technique measures the sample-induced distortions of a spatially random reference pattern to retrieve quantitative sample information. This phase-contrast method is promising for biomedical application due to both a simple experimental set-up and a capability for real-time imaging. The authors explore the experimental configuration required to achieve robustness and accuracy in terms of (i) the paper analyzer feature size, (ii) the sample-to-detector distance, and (iii) the exposure time. Results using a synchrotron source confirm that the technique achieves accurate phase retrieval with a range of paper analyzers and at exposures as short as 0.5 ms. These exposure times are sufficiently short relative to characteristic physiological timescales to enable real-time dynamic imaging of living samples. A theoretical guide to the choice of sample-to-detector distance is also derived. While the measurements are specific to the set-up, these guidelines, the example speckle images, the strategies for analysis in the presence of noise and the experimental considerations and discussion will be of value to those who wish to use the speckle-tracking paper analyzer technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isobel A Aloisio
- Central Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - David M Paganin
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Christopher A Wright
- Central Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Kaye S Morgan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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19
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Cole JM, Wood JC, Lopes NC, Poder K, Abel RL, Alatabi S, Bryant JSJ, Jin A, Kneip S, Mecseki K, Symes DR, Mangles SPD, Najmudin Z. Laser-wakefield accelerators as hard x-ray sources for 3D medical imaging of human bone. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13244. [PMID: 26283308 PMCID: PMC5289072 DOI: 10.1038/srep13244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A bright μm-sized source of hard synchrotron x-rays (critical energy Ecrit > 30 keV) based on the betatron oscillations of laser wakefield accelerated electrons has been developed. The potential of this source for medical imaging was demonstrated by performing micro-computed tomography of a human femoral trabecular bone sample, allowing full 3D reconstruction to a resolution below 50 μm. The use of a 1 cm long wakefield accelerator means that the length of the beamline (excluding the laser) is dominated by the x-ray imaging distances rather than the electron acceleration distances. The source possesses high peak brightness, which allows each image to be recorded with a single exposure and reduces the time required for a full tomographic scan. These properties make this an interesting laboratory source for many tomographic imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Cole
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - J C Wood
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - N C Lopes
- 1] The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK [2] GoLP, Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001, Portugal
| | - K Poder
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - R L Abel
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, MSk Laboratory, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London W6 8RF, UK
| | - S Alatabi
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - J S J Bryant
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - A Jin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City and Guilds Building, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - S Kneip
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - K Mecseki
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - D R Symes
- Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - S P D Mangles
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
| | - Z Najmudin
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, UK
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20
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Wenz J, Schleede S, Khrennikov K, Bech M, Thibault P, Heigoldt M, Pfeiffer F, Karsch S. Quantitative X-ray phase-contrast microtomography from a compact laser-driven betatron source. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7568. [PMID: 26189811 PMCID: PMC4518247 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
X-ray phase-contrast imaging has recently led to a revolution in resolving power and tissue contrast in biomedical imaging, microscopy and materials science. The necessary high spatial coherence is currently provided by either large-scale synchrotron facilities with limited beamtime access or by microfocus X-ray tubes with rather limited flux. X-rays radiated by relativistic electrons driven by well-controlled high-power lasers offer a promising route to a proliferation of this powerful imaging technology. A laser-driven plasma wave accelerates and wiggles electrons, giving rise to a brilliant keV X-ray emission. This so-called betatron radiation is emitted in a collimated beam with excellent spatial coherence and remarkable spectral stability. Here we present a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using betatron X-rays. Comprehensive source characterization enables the reconstruction of absolute electron densities. Our results suggest that laser-based X-ray technology offers the potential for filling the large performance gap between synchrotron- and current X-ray tube-based sources. With excellent resolving power and tissue contrast, X-ray phase-contrast imaging holds great promise but the source requirements have limited its use. Here, Wenz et al. show a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using X-ray radiation driven by a high-power laser.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wenz
- 1] Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Physik, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching 85748, Germany [2] MPI für Quantenoptik, Abteilung für Attosekundenphysik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - S Schleede
- Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department &Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - K Khrennikov
- 1] Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Physik, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching 85748, Germany [2] MPI für Quantenoptik, Abteilung für Attosekundenphysik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - M Bech
- 1] Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department &Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, Garching 85748, Germany [2] Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Barngatan 2:B, Lund 22185, Sweden
| | - P Thibault
- 1] Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department &Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, Garching 85748, Germany [2] Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - M Heigoldt
- 1] Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Physik, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching 85748, Germany [2] MPI für Quantenoptik, Abteilung für Attosekundenphysik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - F Pfeiffer
- Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department &Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - S Karsch
- 1] Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Physik, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching 85748, Germany [2] MPI für Quantenoptik, Abteilung für Attosekundenphysik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, Garching 85748, Germany
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21
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Mo MZ, Chen Z, Fourmaux S, Saraf A, Otani K, Kieffer JC, Tsui YY, Ng A, Fedosejevs R. Laser wakefield generated X-ray probe for femtosecond time-resolved measurements of ionization states of warm dense aluminum. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2013; 84:123106. [PMID: 24387419 DOI: 10.1063/1.4842237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a laser wakefield generated X-ray probe to directly measure the temporal evolution of the ionization states in warm dense aluminum by means of absorption spectroscopy. As a promising alternative to the free electron excited X-ray sources, Betatron X-ray radiation, with femtosecond pulse duration, provides a new technique to diagnose femtosecond to picosecond transitions in the atomic structure. The X-ray probe system consists of an adjustable Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) microscope for focusing the Betatron emission to a small probe spot on the sample being measured, and a flat Potassium Acid Phthalate Bragg crystal spectrometer to measure the transmitted X-ray spectrum in the region of the aluminum K-edge absorption lines. An X-ray focal spot size of around 50 μm was achieved after reflection from the platinum-coated 10-cm-long KB microscope mirrors. Shot to shot positioning stability of the Betatron radiation was measured resulting in an rms shot to shot variation in spatial pointing on the sample of 16 μm. The entire probe setup had a spectral resolution of ~1.5 eV, a detection bandwidth of ~24 eV, and an overall photon throughput efficiency of the order of 10(-5). Approximately 10 photons were detected by the X-ray CCD per laser shot within the spectrally resolved detection band. Thus, it is expected that hundreds of shots will be required per absorption spectrum to clearly observe the K-shell absorption features expected from the ionization states of the warm dense aluminum.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Z Mo
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
| | - Z Chen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
| | - S Fourmaux
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - A Saraf
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - K Otani
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - J C Kieffer
- INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, 1650 Lionel Boulet, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Y Y Tsui
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
| | - A Ng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - R Fedosejevs
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
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22
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Bravin A, Coan P, Suortti P. X-ray phase-contrast imaging: from pre-clinical applications towards clinics. Phys Med Biol 2012; 58:R1-35. [PMID: 23220766 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/58/1/r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 379] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Phase-contrast x-ray imaging (PCI) is an innovative method that is sensitive to the refraction of the x-rays in matter. PCI is particularly adapted to visualize weakly absorbing details like those often encountered in biology and medicine. In past years, PCI has become one of the most used imaging methods in laboratory and preclinical studies: its unique characteristics allow high contrast 3D visualization of thick and complex samples even at high spatial resolution. Applications have covered a wide range of pathologies and organs, and are more and more often performed in vivo. Several techniques are now available to exploit and visualize the phase-contrast: propagation- and analyzer-based, crystal and grating interferometry and non-interferometric methods like the coded aperture. In this review, covering the last five years, we will give an overview of the main theoretical and experimental developments and of the important steps performed towards the clinical implementation of PCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Bravin
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 rue Horowitz, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France.
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23
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Corde S, Thaury C, Phuoc KT, Lifschitz A, Lambert G, Faure J, Lundh O, Benveniste E, Ben-Ismail A, Arantchuk L, Marciniak A, Stordeur A, Brijesh P, Rousse A, Specka A, Malka V. Mapping the x-ray emission region in a laser-plasma accelerator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2011; 107:215004. [PMID: 22181891 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.107.215004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The x-ray emission in laser-plasma accelerators can be a powerful tool to understand the physics of relativistic laser-plasma interaction. It is shown here that the mapping of betatron x-ray radiation can be obtained from the x-ray beam profile when an aperture mask is positioned just beyond the end of the emission region. The influence of the plasma density on the position and the longitudinal profile of the x-ray emission is investigated and compared to particle-in-cell simulations. The measurement of the x-ray emission position and length provides insight on the dynamics of the interaction, including the electron self-injection region, possible multiple injection, and the role of the electron beam driven wakefield.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Corde
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, ENSTA ParisTech - CNRS UMR-École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
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