MULTIPHOTON-INDUCED X-RAY-EMISSION AND AMPLIFICATION FROM CLUSTERS

The development of a unified picture of short-pulse high-intensity mul tiphoton processes, embracing atoms, molecules, and solids, appears po ssible through the study of clusters. Of particular significance are p ossible intra-cluster processes that can influence the mechanism of io nization and lead to the production of inner-shell vacancies. Inner-sh ell excitation leading to prompt X-ray emission is specifically consid ered and the treatment leads to the definition of a critical cluster s ize n(c) representing the achievement of maximal X-ray emission from t he ensemble. These results suggest the possibility of designing a new class of molecular materials optimized for the efficient production an d amplification of X-rays.