To visualize the region of nuclear reactions of DD-fusion, the method of registration of protons with energy Ep = 3.02 MeV, formed in the second neutron-free channel, which has the same probability as the reaction in the neutron channel, was used. The results of recordings on the CR-39 track detector of the plasma cumulation region using two different coding diaphragms and the results of estimating the number of reactions in targets with an inverted corona using this method are presented.

We present the results of our experiments at the Luch laser facility in which the processes of the destruction of iron asteroids and cometary nuclei in space by nuclear explosions on their surface are simulated based on the principle of physical similarity. We present the results of our numerical simulations of impacts on the surface of iron objects confirming the similarity of the key processes in the full-scale and model cases. The technologies of fabricating miniature mockups with parameters close to those of iron asteroids and cometary nuclei are described. For various mini-mockups 3–12 mm in size at a laser energy from 50 to 450 J we provide an experimental estimate of the energy threshold for the undeniable destruction of mockups and investigate the parameters of their fragmentation. Conclusions about the probable results of the impact of a nuclear explosion on hazardous cosmic objects have been drawn.

We present the results of preliminary experiments at laser facilities in which the processes of the undeniable destruction of stony asteroids (chondrites) in space by nuclear explosions on the asteroid surface are simulated based on the principle of physical similarity. We present the results of comparative gasdynamic computations of a model nuclear explosion on the surface of a large asteroid and computations of the impact of a laser pulse on a miniature asteroid simulator confirming the similarity of the key processes in the fullscale and model cases. The technology of fabricating miniature mockups with mechanical properties close to those of stony asteroids is described. For mini-mockups 4–10 mm in size differing by the shape and impact conditions, we have made an experimental estimate of the energy threshold for the undeniable destruction of a mockup and investigated the parameters of its fragmentation at a laser energy up to 500 J. The results obtained confirm the possibility of an experimental determination of the criteria for the destruction of asteroids of various types by a nuclear explosion in laser experiments. We show that the undeniable destruction of a large asteroid is possible at attainable nuclear explosion energies on its surface.

The hydrodynamics of the flow formation due to the interaction of a shock wave with two-dimensional density perturbations is experimentally investigated on the Iskra-5 laser facility. Shadow images of a jet arising as a result of the impact of a shock wave (formed by a soft X-ray pulse from a target-illuminator) on a flat aluminium target with a blind cylindrical cavity are recorded in experiments with point-like X-ray backlighting having a photon energy of ~4.5 keV. The sizes and mass of the jet ejected from the aluminium cavity by this shock wave are estimated. The experimental data are compared with the results of numerical simulation of the jet formation and dynamics according to the two-dimensional MID-ND2D code.

Pilot scheme for the study of plasma under extreme condition is implemented using a compound 3D X-ray lens. Hard X-ray image of laser plasma produced by irradiating of copper foil by intense laser pulse was recorded using this lens.

An experimental scheme for studying laser-produced plasmas under extremal conditions with the aid of a compound refractive X-ray lens has been implemented. Laser-produced plasma bunches have been imaged in hard X-rays upon intense laser irradiation of a copper foil target.

We set forth the data of experimental investigation of X-ray spectral absorption coefficients in the 1.1-1.6 keV photon energy range for Al and Ge specimens bulk heated by soft X-ray radiation. Two experimental techniques are described: with the use of one facility channel and the heating of specimens by the X-ray radiation from a plane burnthrough target, as well as with the use of four channels and the heating by the radiation from two cylindrical targets with internal input of laser radiation. The X-ray radiation absorption coefficients were studied by way of transmission absorption spectroscopy using backlighting X-ray radiation from a point source. The results of investigation of X-ray spectral absorption coefficients on the 1s-2p transitions in Al atoms and the 2p-3d transitions in Ge atoms are presented.

We set forth the data of experiments involving direct microtarget irradiation by the 12 second-harmonic beams (λ = 0.66 μm) of iodine laser radiation carried out on the Iskra-5 facility. For microtargets we employed glass shells ∼500 μm in diameter with ∼1-μm thick walls, which were filled with a DT mixture at a pressure pDT ≈ 3-4 atm. In one of these experiments, a tomographic image of the microtarget was recorded from the images obtained using pinhole cameras, which were arranged along seven different directions. The pinhole images were acquired in the X-ray radiation with photon energies above 1.5 keV. The procedure used for reconstructing the volume luminosity of the microtarget is described. An analysis of the tomographic image suggests that the compressed microtarget domain possesses a complex asymmetric shape; 20–30 μm sized structural elements being clearly visible. The resultant data set allowed us to estimate the initial nonuniformity of microtarget surface irradiation by the laser radiation. The rms nonuniformity of microtarget irradiance was estimated at ∼60 %.

Powerful iodine ISKRA-5 laser facility was upgraded and now operates on the second harmonic. Experiments were performed to measure the x-ray spectral opacity of dense plasma of different materials. Sample of material under study was fabricated as a thin plate with the 0.1-0.15 mu m thickness and was heated by the soft x-rays generated by irradiation of a thin film gold converter by one beam of the ISKRA-5 laser facility. Typical laser intensity on the converter was (1-5)(.)10(13) W/cm(2) and laser pulse duration was 0.5-0.6 ns. The effective temperature of sample under experimental conditions didn't exceed 30-40 eV. The sample was tampered by similar to 1 mu m plastic layers on both sides to avoid its rarefaction during heating and to obtain a quasistationary layer of a dense plasma prepared to be probed by a backlighter. The backlighter was aluminum or dysprosium film irradiated by another beam of the ISKRA-5 laser facility with an intensity of 10(14)-10(11) W/cm(2). Probe x-rays were registered by a Bragg spectrometer with spatial resolution. Comparison between experimental data and simulations is discussed.

The results of an experimental study of the spatial resolution of a spherical quartz crystal for X rays at λ = 8.42 Å are presented. An experimental design for the two-dimensional X-ray imaging of test objects was used to determine the spatial resolution of such a crystal. The crystal resolution measured using an image scan was 2 μm for the Gaussian point spread function.