NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF SUBPICOSECOND LASER-PLASMA X-RAY-EMISSION

A one-dimensional hydrodynamic code, ION, which takes ionization kinet ics into account, was elaborated and used for the calculation of x-ray emission from plasma produced by the action of a subpicosecond laser pulse onto a solid target in vacuum. Calculated intensities for alumin um target emission are in agreement with experimental and theoretical results of other authors. The simple model gives the correct qualitati ve description of plasma x-ray emission for the given experimental par ameters. The influence of fast electrons on the rate of subpicosecond laser plasma ionization is ascertained. It is shown that x-ray emissio n intensity depends on laser plasma shape; for the pulse with a more a brupt forward front the intensity is diminished. (C) 1996 Optical Soci ety of America