A simple model for soft X-ray conversion efficiency from laser-irradiated gold disk targets

Abstract

Simple arguments are used to construct a model to explain the conversion efficiency of absorbed laser energy into soft X-rays from laser-irradiated targets. In this model, we postulate that the energy available for conversion is bounded at some low irradiance limit by heat conduction away from the laser heated spot, while at some high irradiance limit it is bounded by the energy lost in plasma blowoff. Consequently, at some appropriate laser intensity, where the sum energy of the conduction and blowoff losses is at a minimum, the X-ray conversion efficiency should reach a maximum. A specific example for gold disk targets irradiated by 0·53 μm laser light will be treated. Simple heuristic scalings of blowoff and conduction as functions of laser intensity are obtained.