<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Fast electrons created as a result of the laser beam interaction with a solid target penetrate into the target material and initialize processes leading to the generation of the characteristic X-ray K-α radiation. Due to the strong electric field induced at the rear side of a thin target the transmitted electrons are redirected back into the target. These refluxing electrons increase the K-α radiation yield, as well as the duration of the X-ray pulse and the size of the radiation emitting area. A model describing the electron refluxing was verified via particle-in-cell simulations for non-relativistic electron energies. Using this model it was confirmed that the effect of the electron refluxing on the generated X-ray radiation depends on the target thickness and the target material. A considarable increase of the number of the emitted K-α photons is observed especially for thin targets made of low-Z materials, and for higher hot electron temperatures.</p></abstract>

Fast electrons created as a result of the laser beam interaction with a solid target penetrate into the target material and initialize processes leading to the generation of the characteristic X-ray K-α radiation. Due to the strong electric field induced at the rear side of a thin target the transmitted electrons are redirected back into the target. These refluxing electrons increase the K-α radiation yield, as well as the duration of the X-ray pulse and the size of the radiation emitting area. A model describing the electron refluxing was verified via particle-in-cell simulations for non-relativistic electron energies. Using this model it was confirmed that the effect of the electron refluxing on the generated X-ray radiation depends on the target thickness and the target material. A considarable increase of the number of the emitted K-α photons is observed especially for thin targets made of low-Z materials, and for higher hot electron temperatures.

Hot electron refluxing in the short intense laser pulse interactions with solid targets and its influence on K-α radiation

Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, 115 19 Prague 1, Czech Republic and Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Za Slovankou 1782/3, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic, Tel.: +42026 605 2585, Fax: +42028 658 6142

Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, 115 19 Prague 1, Czech Republic

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fast electrons created as a result of the laser beam interaction with a solid target penetrate into the target material and initialize processes leading to the...

Hot electron refluxing in the short intense laser pulse interactions with solid targets and its influence on K-α radiation

Published Online: Jun 22, 2015

Page range: 233 - 237

Received: Jul 11, 2014

Accepted: Nov 14, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0045

Keywords
electron recirculation, electron refluxing, K-α radiation, laser–plasma interactions, particle-in-cell simulation

© Vojtěch Horný et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Hot electron refluxing in the short intense laser pulse interactions with solid targets and its influence on K-α radiation

Published Online: Jun 22, 2015

Page range: 233 - 237

Received: Jul 11, 2014

Accepted: Nov 14, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0045

Keywordselectron recirculation, electron refluxing, K-α radiation, laser–plasma interactions, particle-in-cell simulation

© Vojtěch Horný et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
electron recirculation, electron refluxing, K-α radiation, laser–plasma interactions, particle-in-cell simulation