Author:
Rousse A.,Audebert P.,Geindre J.P.,Falliès F.,Gauthier J.C.,Mysyrowicz A.,Grillon G.,Antonetti A.
Abstract
The generation of intense and ultrafast x-ray pulses is a challenge in the study of unexplored physics of high density and high temperature plasmas [1]. Such plasmas are produced when an intense ultra-short laser pulse (100 fs, 1016-17 W/cm2) is focused on solid targets [2-6]. Laser energy absorbed within the laser skin depth gives rise to a thermal plasma of several hundred electron-volts temperature, close to solid density. Behind the thermal plasma, fast electrons resulting from the specific interaction of the incident laser light through a very steep density gradient [7] eject inner shell electrons of the target plasma. This produces fluorescence line radiation as the inner shell vacancy is filled from outer shells [4, 8].