In the realm of high energy density and fusion research, a team of international scientists led by Alejandro Laso Garcia from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has developed an advanced imaging platform at the European XFEL. This platform, known as the High Energy Density – Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HED-HiBEF), combines powerful XFEL beams with high-intensity short-pulse and high-energy nanosecond-pulse lasers to achieve unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.
The HED-HiBEF instrument integrates the XFEL beam with the ReLaX and DiPOLE-100X lasers, enabling researchers to capture detailed images with a spatial resolution better than 500 nanometers and a temporal resolution of approximately 50 femtoseconds. This cutting-edge technology allows for the study of extreme conditions relevant to inertial fusion energy and high energy density physics. The team demonstrated the platform’s capabilities by examining blast waves and converging cylindrical shocks in aluminum, resonant absorption measurements of specific charged states in copper using ReLaX, and planar shocks in polystyrene generated by DiPOLE-100X. These experiments highlight the platform’s potential for advancing our understanding of materials under extreme conditions.
The researchers also discussed the possibilities introduced by combining this imaging platform with a kilojoule-class laser. Such an upgrade could further enhance the platform’s capabilities, enabling more detailed studies of high energy density states and inertial fusion processes. The integration of these advanced imaging techniques could provide valuable insights into the behavior of materials under extreme conditions, which is crucial for the development of inertial fusion energy technologies.
The research was published in the journal “Scientific Reports,” providing a comprehensive overview of the HED-HiBEF platform and its applications in high energy density and fusion research. This work represents a significant step forward in the field, offering new tools and methodologies for studying the fundamental processes that underpin inertial fusion energy and high energy density physics. As the energy sector continues to explore alternative and sustainable energy sources, advancements in fusion research could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy production.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.