Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have created the world’s brightest X-ray source, which has surpassed the intensity of previous sources by twofold. This breakthrough could advance critical fields like fusion energy research.
To achieve this milestone, the researchers combined two powerful tools: the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser and ultra-light metal foams.
The NIF laser, one of the world’s most energetic lasers, is capable of delivering incredibly intense pulses of light.
Metal foams, on the other hand, are materials with a sponge-like structure, containing a network of pores that make them incredibly lightweight.
The researchers chose silver for their metal foam. They chose silver because the energy of the X-rays a…