Ultrahigh power compression for X-ray amplification: multiphoton cluster excitation combined with nonlinear channelled propagation

Abstract

The ability to apply power densities controllably at or above vigorous thermonuclear levels (>1019 W cm-3) in materials is the basic issue for achieving efficient amplification of X-rays. Recent experimental and theoretical findings concerning (i) the multiphoton production of X-rays from clusters and (ii) high-intensity modes of channelled propagation in plasmas indicate an entirely new method for producing the conditions necessary for strong amplification in the multi-kV range. These two new nonlinear phenomena are being united to produce and control the imperative power compression; the multiphoton mechanism serves to establish the condition locally while the confined propagation provides the required spatial organization. The present work, which experimentally demonstrates the first combined expression of these two complex nonlinear processes through direct X-ray imaging of Xe(M) emission ( approximately 1 keV) in stable self-trapped channels, ( alpha ) reveals the exceptional compatibility of their mutual scaling for realizing the necessary power density, ( beta ) provides confirming evidence for the action of a superstrong coherent multi-electron intense-field interaction in the X-ray generation from the Xe clusters, and ( gamma ) furnishes new detailed information on the dynamics of the radial intensity distributions associated with the channelled propagation. The resulting knowledge of the scaling relations underlying these phenomena enables the optimum conditions for amplification to be specified up to a quantum energy of approximately 5 keV. The harmonious use of these new nonlinear processes is expected to lead to an advanced generation of extraordinarily bright X-ray sources in the multi-kV region having a peak brightness of approximately 1031-1033 gamma s-1 (mrad)-2 (mm)-2 (0.1% BW)-1, a level sufficient for biological holographic imaging capable of providing a high resolution visualization of the molecular anatomy of cells, tissues and organisms in the natural state.