High-resolution K-shell spectra of a plasma created by
superintense laser irradiation of micron-sized Ar clusters have been
measured with an intensity above 1019 W/cm2
and a pulse duration of 30 fs. The total photon flux of 2 ×
108 photons/pulse was achieved for Heα1
resonant line of Ar (λ = 3.9491 Å, 3.14 keV). In parallel
with X-ray measurements, energy distributions of emitted ions have been
measured. The multiply charged ions with kinetic energies up to 800 keV
were observed. It is found that hot electrons produced by high contrast
laser pulses allow the isochoric heating of clusters and shift the ion
balance toward the higher charge states, which enhances both the X-ray
line yield of the He-like argon ion and the ion kinetic energy.