X-ray Radiography and Scattering Diagnosis of Dense Shock-Compressed Matter

Highly coupled Boron plasma has been probed by spectrally resolving an x-ray source scattered by the plasma. Electron density was inferred from the inelastic feature in the collective scattering regime. In addition, the mass density inferred from the noncollective x-ray Thomson scattering has been tested with independent characterization using x-ray radiography in the same drive condition. High-intensity laser produced K-alpha radiation was used as a backlighter for these dynamically compressed plasma experiments providing a high temporal resolution of the measurements. Mass density measurements from both methods are in good agreement. The measurements yield a compression of 1.3 in agreement with detailed radiation-hydrodynamic modeling. From the charge state measured in the noncollective regime and the electron density measured in the collective regime mass density can then be constrained to 3.15±0.7.