Monte Carlo simulation on X-ray backlighting imaging in fast ignition research

In fast ignition researches, fuel density is usually diagnosed by X-ray backlighting imaging with an X-ray source produced by laser irradiating metal target. The simulation on the X-ray backlighting imaging has been performed using a Monte Carlo code (MCNPs). The influence on imaging quality induced by the radius and thickness of pinhole, and the energy of X-ray source were investigated. The simulation results show that, the combination of a pinhole with 10 μm radius and a X-ray source with 2.7 keV energy, corresponding to Ka line of Mo, is the optimum choice, when both the luminous flux and the spatial resolution of imaging are concerned. (authors)