Using dynamic radiography to determine the volume of an imploding cylinder

Experiments have been conducted in Sarov, Russia, with a dynamic radiographic system designed to establish the volume of an imploding 14-mm-diameter tungsten cylinder. Images were formed using a 65-MeV gamma source, lutetium oxyorthosilicate doped with cerium (LSO:Ce) radiation-to- light converter, and a fiber optic imaging bundle. Three radiographs were recorded in the course of approximately 2 microseconds using an electronic streak camera with intensified CCD readout. Significant improvements in system performance were achieved over lens coupling of components by the introduction of coherent fiber optics.