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Numerical studies on the ultrashort pulse K-α emission sources based on femtosecond laser–target interactions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2004

J. LIMPOUCH ,
O. KLIMO ,
V. BÍNA  and
S. KAWATA
J. LIMPOUCH
Affiliation:
Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Praha, Czech Republic
O. KLIMO
Affiliation:
Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Praha, Czech Republic
V. BÍNA
Affiliation:
Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Praha, Czech Republic
S. KAWATA
Affiliation:
Utsunomiya University, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Yohtoh, Utsunomiya, Japan
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Abstract

K-α emission is an intense short-pulse line source well suited for X-ray diagnostic techniques with subpicosecond and micrometer resolution. Numerical simulations are performed here in a search for laser–target interaction regimes where both high efficiency of laser energy transformation to X-ray emission and ultrashort X-ray pulses are achieved. We use the one-dimensional PIC code for the description of the laser interaction with the plasma layer at the target surface. Fast electron transport into the target is treated by our newly developed Monte Carlo code with temporal resolution that is described here in detail. Our simulations reveal extremely short ∼200 fs FWHM bright K-α X-ray pulses emitted from targets heated by 120-fs pulses of a table-top laser. Laser energy conversion efficiency to K-α line emission as high as 6 × 10−5 is noticed. Integration of the emitted energy over the focal spot is carried out to improve the simulation accord with published experimental data. Negligible impact of self-induced electric fields on K-α emission is found for conducting target materials at moderate laser intensities [lsim ]1017 W/cm2.

Keywords

Electron accelerationK-α emissionPIC simulationTime-resolved Monte Carlo codeUltrashort-pulse laser–target interactionUltrashort X-ray pulse
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , June 2004 , pp. 147 - 156
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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