Bright X-Ray Source from a Laser-Driven Microplasma Waveguide
Abstract
Owing to the rapid progress in laser technology, very high-contrast femtosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensities have become available. These pulses allow for interaction with microstructured solid-density plasma without destroying the structure by parasitic prepulses. This opens a new realm of possibilities for laser interaction with micro- and nanoscale photonic materials at relativistic intensities. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that when coupled with a readily available 1.8 J laser, a microplasma waveguide (MPW) may serve as a novel compact x-ray source. Electrons are extracted from the walls and form a dense helical bunch inside the channel. These electrons are efficiently accelerated and wiggled by the waveguide modes in the MPW, which results in a bright, well-collimated emission of hard x rays in the range of 1 ∼100 keV .
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 2016
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.115001
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1510.04505
- Bibcode:
- 2016PhRvL.116k5001Y
- Keywords:
-
- Physics - Plasma Physics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 4 figures