STRONG K-ALPHA EMISSION IN PICOSECOND LASER-PLASMA INTERACTIONS

Kalpha emission is observed from the interaction of a picosecond, 1.05 mum laser pulse at 4 X 10(15) W/cm2 with a silicon target coated with various thicknesses of aluminum. Strong Kalpha emission requires a p-polarized, high-intensity-contrast laser pulse. At 7.1 angstrom, the Kalpha yield is 1.5 X 10(8) photons/sr with a duration of emission of less-than-or-equal-to 8 ps and a source area of 1.6 X 10(-6) cm2. The radiance is greater-than-or-equal-to 3 X 10(9) W/cm2 sr. Monte Carlo simulations have suggested that under these conditions Kalpha emission is a promising candidate for an efficient, ultra-short-duration x-ray source at approximately 1.5 angstrom.