Development of high intensity X-ray sources at the National Ignition Facility

摘要

Laser heated plasmas have provided recently some of the most powerful and energetic nanosecond length laboratory sources of x-ray photons (E-photon = 1-30 keV). The highest x-ray to laser conversion is currently accessible by using underdense (n(e) similar to 0.25 n(c)) plasmas since optimal laser coupling is obtained in millimeter scale targets. The targets can have conversion efficiencies of up to 10%. Several types of targets can be used to produce underdense plasmas: metal lined cylindrical cavities, gas pipes, and most recently nano-wire foams. Both the experimental and simulation details of these high intensity x-ray sources are discussed. Published by AIP Publishing.