X‐Rays emission by high‐intensity pulsed lasers irradiating thin foils at PALS laboratory

Abstract

AbstractX‐rays and forward ion emission from laser‐generated plasma in the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration regime of different targets with 10‐μm thickness, irradiated at Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) laboratory at about 1016 W/cm2 intensity, employing a 1,315 nm‐wavelength laser with a 300‐ps pulse duration, are investigated. The photon and ion emissions were mainly measured using Silicon Carbide (SiC) detectors in time‐of‐flight configuration and X‐ray streak camera imaging. The results show that the maximum proton acceleration value and the X‐ray emission yield growth are proportional to the atomic number of the irradiated targets. The X‐ray emission is not isotropic, with energies increasing from 1 keV for light atomic targets to about 2.5 keV for heavy atomic targets. The laser focal position significantly influences the X‐ray emission from light and heavy irradiated targets, indicating the possible induction of self‐focusing effects when the laser beam is focalized in front of the light target surface and of electron density enhancement for focalization inside the target.