Abstract
Simulation of x-ray generation from bombardment of various solid targets by quasimonoenergetic electrons is considered. The electron bunches are accelerated in a plasma produced by interaction of 500 mJ, 30 femtosecond laser pulses with a helium gas jet. These relativistic electrons propagate in the ion channel generated in the wake of the laser pulse. A beam of MeV electrons can interact with targets to generate x-ray radiation with keV energy. The MCNP-4C code based on Monte Carlo simulation is employed to compare the production of bremsstrahlung and characteristic x rays between 10 and 100 keV by using two quasi-Maxwellian and quasimonoenergetic energy distributions of electrons. For a specific electron spectrum and a definite sample, the maximum x-ray flux varies with the target thickness. Besides, by increasing the target atomic number, the maximum x-ray flux is increased and shifted towards a higher energy level. It is shown that by using the quasimonoenergetic electron profile, a more intense x ray can be produced relative to the quasi-Maxwellian profile (with the same total energy), representing up to 77% flux enhancement at ${K}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ energy.
Highlights
Unlike optical radiation, x rays have the ability to penetrate optically opaque materials
There are some differences in the attained magnitudes of Fmax, representing that they do change with electron energy distribution
X-ray simulation is performed by MCNP-4C code based on the Monte Carlo method in the energy range of 10 to 100 keV
Summary
X rays have the ability to penetrate optically opaque materials. X rays have been generated via acceleration of electrons by different techniques, from ordinary x-ray generator tubes, and expensive huge accelerators, to recently developed laser-plasma accelerators [5,6,7] based on the development of chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) in laser systems [8]. The conventional systems can produce electron energy of more than 1 GeV in a storage ring with a diameter of 20–25 meters. Generation of a GeV level of electron beam from a centimeter-scale accelerator is possible by means of intense lasers [9]. A detailed overview of research on new radiation sources using relativistic electrons can be found in [10]
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