Efficiency Enhancement for K{sub {alpha}} X-Ray Yields from Laser-Driven Relativistic Electrons in Solids

Journal Article · Fri Jun 10 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.106.235002· OSTI ID:21567451

Sefkow, A B; Bennett, G R; Geissel, M; Schollmeier, M; Franke, B C; Atherton, B W ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)

High-irradiance short-pulse lasers incident on solid density thin foils provide high-energy, picosecond-duration, and monochromatic K{sub {alpha}} x-ray sources, but with limited conversion efficiency {epsilon} of laser energy into K{sub {alpha}} x-ray energy. A novel two-stage target concept is proposed that utilizes ultrahigh-contrast laser interactions with primary ultrathin foils in order to efficiently generate and transport in large quantities only the most effective K{sub {alpha}-}producing high-energy electrons into secondary x-ray converter foils. Benchmarked simulations with no free numerical parameters indicate an {epsilon} enhancement greater than tenfold over conventional single targets may be possible.

• OSTI ID: 21567451
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 106; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DENSITY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
FLUX DENSITY
FOILS
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LASERS
LEPTONS
MONOCHROMATIC RADIATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PULSES
RADIANT FLUX DENSITY
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SIMULATION
SOLIDS
X RADIATION
X-RAY SOURCES