Generation of x-ray radiation in a plasma created by a train of pulses from a regenerative CO2amplifier

Abstract

For the first time an investigation was made of the generation of hard x-ray radiation (ω ≈ 3–5 keV) in a plasma of Dural and tungsten targets created by a regenerative CO2 amplifier with moderate laser radiation intensities of ~ 1010–1011 W/cm2. It was found that, even at such relatively low CO2 laser radiation intensities in the plasma, instabilities can develop which generate hot superthermal electrons responsible for hard x-ray emission. The experimental results are discussed.