Absorption of ultrashort laser pulses, x-ray and fast-particle generation in superdense plasma

In the present work the interaction of single and series of laser pluses with laser energy to 0.5 J (for different light polarizations and incident angles) with aluminum target was investigated. It was found out, that p-polarized laser light is absorbed much better than s-polarized light. It is a result of resonance absorption. The main part of absorbed laser energy is spent on heating and fast particle generation. X-ray intensity is higher in the case of p-polarized laser light than in the case of s-polarized laser light. Results of numerical calculations by codes 'SKIN' and 'ION' are in good agreement with the experimental ones.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.