<title>X-ray emission from an intense ultrashort pulse laser--aluminum target interaction</title>

Abstract

The interaction of an intense subpicosecond laser pulse with a planar aluminum target is investigated to determine the characteristics of the evolving plasma. In particular, attention is focused on the emitted x-ray pulse, its spectra including K_(alpha ) emission, and intensity. The interaction is simulated with a non-LTE radiation hydrodynamics model self-consistently coupled to a Helmholtz wave equation describing the absorption of S- and P- polarized incident laser radiation. A fraction of the absorbed laser energy is redistributed and expended in fast electrons, which are transported and deposit their energy producing local heating, inner-shell atomic vacancies and K_(alpha ) radiation. The feasibility of creating conditions conducive to the formation of atomic population inversions leading to gain in selected K- and L-shell transitions is explored.