Bremsstrahlung and Line Spectroscopy of Warm Dense Aluminum Plasma Generated by EUV Free Electron Laser

We report on the novel creation of a solid density aluminum plasma using free electron laser radiation at 13.5 nm wavelength. Ultrashort pulses of 30 fs duration and 47 {micro}J pulse energy were focused on a spot of 25 {micro}m diameter, yielding an intensity of 3 x 10{sup 14} W/cm{sup 2} on the bulk Al-target. The radiation emitted from the plasma was measured using a high resolution, high throughput EUV spectrometer. The analysis of both bremsstrahlung and line spectra results in an estimated electron temperature of (30 {+-} 10) eV, which is in very good agreement with radiation hydrodynamics simulations of the laser-target-interaction. This demonstrates the feasibility of exciting plasmas at warm dense matter conditions using EUV free electron lasers and their accurate characterization by EUV spectroscopy.