Laser‐generated plasmas as a source of x rays for medical applications

High‐resolution medical radiographs have been produced with a laser‐generated plasma x‐ray source. The nanosecond pulse width is capable of arresting biological motion. In addition, the soft x rays from this source have been transmitted through a new type of x‐ray beam handling device, the x‐ray pipe, which is an x‐ray analogue of the conventional light pipe. This may allow new medical applications such as channeling soft x rays to internal locations of the body without damaging intervening tissue.