Instrumentation for x-ray diagnostics of plasmas

Measurements of x-rays emitted by hot plasmas provide a powerful diagnostic method of determining important plasma parameters and suggest certain types of plasmas as possibly useful x-ray sources. Instrumentation to accomplish these measurements for various types of plasmas are reviewed. State-of-the-art x-ray spectrometers, calorimeters, and source-imaging devices, designed especially for plasmas generated by focused, nanosecond laser pulses are described. Possibilities of time-resolved measurements on such short-lived plasmas are discussed.