Abstract

We present the analysis of interferometry diagnostics with the user-friendly Talbot Numerical Tool (TNT), a Fourier-based postprocessing code that enables real-time assessment of plasma systems. TNT performance was explored with visible and infrared interferometry in pulsed-power-driven Z-pinch configurations to expand its capabilities beyond Talbot X-ray interferometry in the high-intensity laser environment. TNT enabled accurate electron density characterization of magnetically driven plasma flows and shocks through phaseretrieval methods that did not require data modification or masking. TNT demonstrated enhanced resolution, detecting below 4% fringe shift, which corresponds to 8.7 x 10(15) cm(-2) within 28 mu m, approaching the laser probing system limit. TNT was tested against a well-known interferometry analysis software, delivering an average resolving power nearly ten times better (similar to 28 mu m versus similar to 210 mu m) when resolving plasma ablation features. TNT demonstrated higher sensitivity when probing sharp electron density gradients in supersonic shocks. A maximum electron areal density of 4.1 x 10(17) cm(-2) was measured in the shocked plasma region, and a minimum electron density detection of similar to 1.0 x 10(15) cm(-2) was achieved. When probing colliding plasma flows, the calculations of the effective adiabatic index and the associated errors were improved from gamma * = 2.6 +/- 1.6-1.4 +/- 0.2 with TNT postprocessing, contributing valuable data for the interpretation of radiative transport. Additional applications of TNT in the characterization of pulsedpower plasmas and beyond are discussed.