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Imaging of dynamic processes in materials with a laser-wakefield accelerator

J. Kang1, R.J. Shalloo2, M.J. Higgins3, S.J.D. Dann4, J.-N. Gruse5, C.I.D. Underwood6, A.F. Antoine7, C. Arran6,8,9, C.D. Baird4 et al.

M.D. Balcazar7, N. Bourgeois4, J.A. Cardarelli7, K. Krushelnick7, S.P.D. Mangles5, C.D. Murphy6, N. Lu3, P.P. Rajeev4, M.P. Selwood6, D.R. Symes4, C.P. Ridgers6, A.G.R. Thomas7, C. Thornton4, Z. Najmudin5, P.G. Sanders10, P.D. Staublin3, A.J. Shahani1,3,*, and M.J.V. Streeter11,†

  • *Contact author: shahani@umich.edu
  • †Contact author: m.streeter@qub.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 064013 – Published 3 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/jzzn-bsy8

Abstract

Betatron x rays generated from laser-wakefield accelerators are a promising source for imaging dynamic processes in materials. Here, we present proof-of-concept imaging of microstructural evolution in a hypermonotectic Al-Bi alloy, which consists of liquid Bi particles in a solid Al matrix. The images capture the elongation and fragmentation of Bi particles upon isothermal annealing. Because of the femtosecond time scale of the betatron source, the images are not subject to motion blur, whereas the accessibility of the source allows for studies of long-term processes such as annealing. The high-resolution data reveal that the evolution of Bi particles is mediated by an interplay of grain-boundary wetting and morphological instability, in stark contrast to an earlier proposal for (inverse) coarsening.

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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 064013– Published 3 December, 2025
  • Received 25 March 2025
  • Revised 15 October 2025
  • Accepted 10 November 2025
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