Behavior of expanding laser produced plasma in a magnetic field

Characteristics of a laser produced plasma expanding across an externally applied magnetic field (0.6 T) have been reported. Two to three times enhancement in x-ray emission from copper plasma has been observed for the laser intensity range ~5 × 1011–5 × 1012 W/cm2. The x-ray yield has been found to increase with an increase in the magnetic field intensity. Enhancement in x-ray emission is correlated with confinement of an expanding plasma in an external magnetic field. Generation of fluid instability has been found at the expanding plasma surfaces where the kinetic pressure of the plasma equals the magnetic pressure.