Measurement of hot-electron production and microwave emission by laser-irradiated CH targets

An experimental study was conducted on hot-electron production and microwave emission by laser irradiated targets. The laser was a neodymium glass laser (1.06-micron wavelength). Typically the laser beam consisted of a weak 3 mJ repulse followed by a strong 30 J main pulse 8ns later. Both pulses had a temporal duration of 150 psec and were focused to a 30-micron diameter pot. The majority of the data presented were obtained using exploding-foil-type targets, which had either copper or tin foils attached to the side pointed away from the laser. These foils emitted X-rays that were used to diagnose hot electron temperature, energy and transport. Other targets used were plastic, brass, and copper disks. Specific goals of the experiment included: measurement of the hot-electron temperature and energy, determination of how the hot electrons spread from the point of their generation, and measure of the microwave energy spectrum and total energy emitted from the targets.