[en] Radiography is a heavily used tool for diagnosing laser-based hydrodynamic experiments. A successful experiment relies on the gathering of data over a time window where the relevant physics occurs and on an accurate analysis of those data. Comparison of this experimental data to theory is often best done by generating simulated images from hydrodynamic calculations, including all necessary and important experimental details. Care must be taken to treat both the experimental and theoretical images identically in the analysis. Frequently, image filtering and enhancement routines are used to obtain interface location and perturbation information from the radiographic image. Previous techniques were found to be too sensitive to global image details. New procedures have been developed which utilize local operators that provide better edge or interface identification without bias. These procedures are benchmarked and validated using static radiographic targets of known configuration that mock up experimental situations of interest. The experiment and the image analysis development are described, including discussion of key contributions to the uncertainty of the results

[en] Generation of debris from targets and by x-ray ablation of surrounding materials will be a matter of concern for experimenters and National Ignition Facility (NIF) operations. Target chamber and final optics protection, for example debris shield damage, drive the interest for NIF operations. Experimenters are primarily concerned with diagnostic survivability, separation of mechanical versus radiation induced test object response in the case of effects tests, and radiation transport through the debris field when the net radiation output is used to benchmark computer codes. In addition, radiochemical analysis of activated capsule debris during ignition shots can provide a measure of the ablator <ρr>. Conceptual design of the Debris Monitor and Rad-Chem Station, one of the NIF core diagnostics, is presented. Methods of debris collection, particle size and mass analysis, impulse measurement, and radiochemical analysis are given. A description of recent experiments involving debris collection and impulse measurement on the OMEGA and Pharos lasers is also provided