Radiographic results from the NTLX series of hydrodynamic experiments

The NTLX series of experiments are focused on measuring the shock induced hydrodynamic flow of a Sn-PMMA target. For these experiments multi-frame flash X-ray radiography is used to measure the position of the Sn-PMMA target interface and the location of shock in the PMMA as a function of time. Four radiographs are acquired at 700 ns intervals having a line-of-sight following the target's axis of symmetry. Because the X-ray spectrum from the sources has an end-point energy of /spl sim/300 keV with a strong component of /spl sim/60 keV tungsten K-line radiation, the Sn portion of the target is radiographically opaque. However, X-rays are transmitted through the PMMA portion of the target thereby allowing motion of the Sn-PMMA interface to be imaged. Also, the shock location is tracked as a function of time due to the density increase in the shocked PMMA. The resulting radiographs are analyzed to provide the trajectory and shape of both the shock and Sn-PMMA interface. In addition, the shock velocity in the Sn is determined for asymmetric target geometries.