Rocca, Jorge, J., authorHammarsten, E. C., authorJankowska, E., authorFilevich, Jorge, authorMarconi, Mario Carlos, authorMoon, Stephen J., authorShlyaptsev, Vyacheslav N., authorAmerican Institute of Physics, publisher2015-07-282015-07-282003Rocca, J. J., et al., Application of Extremely Compact Capillary Discharge Soft X-Ray Lasers to Dense Plasma Diagnostics, Physics of Plasmas 10, no. 5 (May 2003): 2031-2038.http://hdl.handle.net/10217/2113Table-top capillary discharge soft x-ray lasers combine the advantages of a small size and a high repetition rate with an extremely high brightness similar to that of their laboratory-size predecessors. When utilized to probe high density plasmas their short wavelength results in a higher critical density, reduced refraction, decreased free-electron absorption, and higher resolution as compared to optical probes. These characteristics allow the design of experiments capable of measuring the evolution of plasmas with density-scale length products that are outside the reach of optical lasers. This paper reviews the use of a 46.9 nm wavelength Ne-like Ar capillary discharge table-top laser in dense plasma diagnostics, and reports soft x-ray laser interferometry results of spot-focus Nd:YAG laser plasmas created at moderate irradiation intensity (~7×1012 W cm-2) with ; ~13 ns pulse width duration laser pulses. The measurements produced electron density maps with densities up to 0.9×1021 cm-3 that show the development of a concave electron density profile that differ significantly from those of a classical expansion. This two-dimensional behavior, that was recently also observed in line-focus plasmas, is analyzed here for the case of spot-focus plasmas with the assistance of hydrodynamic model simulations. The results demonstrate the use of a table-top soft x-ray laser interferometer as a new high resolution tool for the study of high density plasma phenomena and the validation of hydrodynamic codes.born digitalarticleseng©2003 American Institute of Physics.Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.plasma diagnosticsdischarges (electric)plasma densityText