AN INVESTIGATION OF THE X-RAY POINT-SOURCE BRIGHTNESS FOR A SHORT-PULSE LASER PLASMA

Abstract The production of X-rays is examined for photon energies in the range ∼3–5 KeV Created when a laser of 0.53 μm wavelength, 100 psec pulse duration and pulse energy ∼15 J is focussed onto various targets of dimension ≲ 10 μm. The aim is to produce a point source (⩽15 μm) of duration ≲ 100 psec suitable, for example, as a backlighter for laser-fusion experiments. We found that tin (Sn) is the best emitter in the 3–5 keV range of the materials studied (Ca, Ti, Sn, Te, CsI) and that stripe targets are better emitters than fibre targets.

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