Investigations of relativistic laser plasma from micron-sized Ar clusters

Fukuda, Yuji; Yamakawa, Koichi

To better understand a fundamental aspect of the laser cluster interaction, we have carried out systematic investigations of X-ray radiation properties of high-density and high-temperature cluster plasma, created by the action of superintense laser irradiation. The interrelationship between the X-ray radiation properties and ion kinetic energies has been for the first time examined by the simultaneous measurements of X-ray radiation spectra and ion energy spectra. Time scale and mechanism of X-ray emission process have been discussed based on a time-dependent plasma kinetics model. Moreover, in order to demonstrate the practical capability of X-rays thus produced, the pulse X-ray diffraction has been examined from Si crystal with this source.