Application of x-ray-laser interferometry to study high-density laser-produced plasmas

Collisionally pumped soft-x-ray lasers now operate over a wavelength range extending from 4 to 40 nn. With the recent advances in the development of multilayer mirrors and beam splitters in the soft-x-ray regime, we can utilize the unique properties of x-ray lasers to study large, rapidly evolving laser-driven plasmas with high electron densities. Using a neonlike yttrium x-ray laser, which operates at a wavelength of 15.5 nm, we have performed a series of radiography, moire deflectometry, and interferometry experiments to characterize plasmas relevant to inertial confinement fusion. We describe experiments using a soft-xray laser interferometer, operated in the Mach-Zehnder configuration, to study CH plasmas. The two-dimensional density profiles obtained from the interferograms allow us to validate and benchmark our numerical models used to study the physics of laser-plasma interactions. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America