Measured Response of Multilayers to Damaging Fluxes

Abstract

We have measured the response of WC/C multilayers to x-ray fluxes on the order of 200 MW/cm² using laser-generated plasmas and found that these multilayers will maintain near peak reflectivity for at least 1 ns but are eventually destroyed. A description of the experiments and data analysis methods is given. Transmission electron micrographs of WC/C multilayers before and after irradiation show melting to be the dominant damage mechanism. The results of the experiments will be compared with simulations.