X-ray source design for cone-focused electron source using MCNP6®*

Recent experiments using NIF-ARC have shown that a cone-focusing scheme can create significantly higher electron energies than directly illuminating an Au wire [S.M. Kerr, et al., Phys. Plasmas, 30, 013101 (2023)]. This electron source could benefit double shell experiments because a higher photon energy spectrum from a wire attached to the end of the cone could be used to radiograph the compressed high-Z inner shell at times closer to stagnation. This will inform the understanding of the impact of the shell nonuniformities on target performance. MCNP6® simulations are used to examine the impact of wire diameter and length on the photon spectrum, yield, and effective source size of the resultant photon spectrum.

 

LA-UR-23-27342. MCNP is a registered trademark of Los Alamos National Laboratory.