New features and initial characterization of the hardened Single Line Of Sight camera*

A new generation of pulse dilation-based x-ray cameras has been developed at the National Ignition Facility. Building upon the lessons learned from a prototype version of the system, the hardened Single Line Of Sight camera will record up to height 30 ps images of Inertial Confinement Fusion implosion experiments, with improved image quality and under the most severe neutron yields. Following its commissioning on NIF, the camera will be used in conjunction with advanced x-ray optics such as the Crystal Backlighter Imager and the Imaging and Spectroscopy Snout. In preparation for its use on these shots, extensive performance tuning of the camera has been performed using a picosecond UV laser system. An overview of the tuning process and its challenges will be presented, and performance comparison with the prototype will be established, including temporal gate profiles, spatial instrument response function and space charge broadening-limited dynamic range.