Production of X-rays from laser-heated gas targets

Summary form only given. Debris-free and efficient multi-kilovolt X-ray sources are needed for materials testing and for use as backlighters in future inertial confinement fusion experiments. Laser-plasma X-ray sources are particularly attractive for these uses since their spectrum can be controlled by proper choice of plasma material and laser intensity, and because many laser-plasma sources can be designed to produce little or no particulate debris. We investigate the use of laser-heated gas to produce multi-KeV X-rays. In one experiment 20 kJ of 0.35 /spl mu/m pulse from the Nova laser heats 1-2 atm. of Xe gas confined in a Be can.