X-ray sources generated from gas-filled laser-heated targets

The X-ray sources in the 4–7 keV energy regime can be produced by laser-irradiating high-Z gas-filled targets with high-powered lasers. A series of experiments have been performed using underdense targets that are supersonically heated with ∼35 kJ of 0.35 μm laser light. These targets were cylindrical Be enclosures that were filled with 1–2 atms of Xe gas. L-shell x-ray emission is emitted from the plasma and detected by Bragg crystal spectrometers and x-ray diodes. Absolute flux measurements show conversion efficiencies of ∼10% in the multi-kilovolt x-ray emission. These sources can be used as bright x-ray backlighters or for material testing.