Time-resolved measurements of Cygnus x-ray production using Aerogel Cherenkov Detector

Abstract

An Aerogel Cherenkov Detector for Cygnus (ACD/C) has been developed to provide time-dependent x-ray spectral information from Cygnus — an intense flash x-ray source operated at the Nevada National Security Site. Time-resolved Cygnus x-ray signals were measured at three energy thresholds: 1.3 MeV (by 197 mg/cc aerogel), 1.1 MeV (by 260 mg/cc aerogel), and 0.3 MeV (by quartz). ACD/C data qualitatively suggest that the high-energy x-ray peak exists on a shorter timescale than the Cygnus voltage or current pulse. A time-dependent, x-ray spectral information can improve the understanding of the physics of dense objects radiography.