Laser Larmor X-ray radiation from low-Z matter

Abstract

A relativistically intense short laser pulse can produce a large flux of X rays through the interaction with electrons that are driven by its intense electromagnetic fields. Apart from X rays from the high-Z matter irradiation by an intense laser, two main processes, Larmor and Bremsstrahlung radiation, are among the most significant mechanisms for X-ray emission from short-pulse laser irradiation on low-Z matter in the regime of relativistic intensities. We evaluate the power, energy spectrum, brilliance, polarization, and time structure of these X rays. We suggest a few methods that significantly enhance the power of Larmor X rays. Because of the peakedness in the energy spectrum of Larmor X rays, Larmor X rays have important applications.