Bremsstrahlung emission profile from intense laser-solid interactions as a function of laser focal spot size

Armstrong, C D and Brenner, C M and Zemaityte, E and Scott, G G and Rusby, D R and Liao, G and Liu, H and Li, Y and Zhang, Z and Zhu, B and Bradford, P and Woolsey, N C and Oliveira, P and Spindloe, C and Wang, W and McKenna, P and Neely, D (2019) Bremsstrahlung emission profile from intense laser-solid interactions as a function of laser focal spot size. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 61 (3). 034001. ISSN 0741-3335 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aaf596)

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Abstract

The bremsstrahlung x-ray emission profile from high-intensity laser-solid interactions provides valuable insight to the internal fast electron transport. Using penumbral imaging, we characterise the spatial profile of this bremsstrahlung source as a function of laser intensity by incrementally increasing the laser focal spot size on target. The experimental data shows a dual-source structure; one from the central channel of electrons, the second a larger substrate source from the recirculating electron current. The results demonstrate than an order of magnitude improvement in the intensity contrast between the two x-ray sources is achieved with a large focal spot, indicating preferable conditions for applications in radiography. An analytical model is derived to describe the transport of suprathermal electron populations that contribute to substrate and central channel sources through a target. The model is in good agreement with the experimental results presented here and furthermore is applied to predict laser intensities for achieving optimum spatial contrast for a variety of target materials and thicknesses.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:66301
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    31 March 2019
    Published
    23 January 2019
    Published Online
    29 November 2018
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:06 Dec 2018 11:26
    Last modified:09 Apr 2024 00:25
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/66301
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