High-energy x-ray source generation by short-pulse high-intensity lasers

We are studying the feasibility of utilizing Kα x-ray sources in the range of 20 to 100 keV as a backlighters for imaging various stages of implosions and high aerial density planar samples driven by the NIF laser facility. The hard x-ray Kα sources are created by relativistic electron plasma interactions in the target material after a radiation by short pulse high intensity lasers. In order to understand Kα source characteristics such as production efficiency and brightness as a function of laser parameters, we have performed experiments using the 10 J, 100 fs JanUSP laser. We utilized single-photon counting spectroscopy and x-ray imaging diagnostics to characterize the Kα source. We find that the Kα conversion efficiency from the laser energy at 22 keV is ~3 x 10 -4 .