X-Ray Flashes from Nanostructures Irradiated at Relativistic Intensity?

J.J.ROCCA; R.C. HOLLINGER; C. BARGNSTEN; M.G. CAPELUTO; Y. WANG; A. ROCKWOOD; S. WANG ; A. PUKHOV; V. KUMAR; V.N. SHLYAPTSEV

Snowbird, Utah

Conferencia; Progress in Quantum Electronic Conference,; 2016

Hot dense matter in the ultra-high energy density (UHED) state , that is characterized by Gigabar pressures, is an intense source of X-ray radiation. The efficient conversion of optical laser light into X-rays requires the plasma to rapidly radiate before the hydrodynamic expansion takes place, cooling the plasma. The necessary short radiative lifetime requires a very large plasma density, while a slower hydrodynamic expansion time requires a large plasma size. However, a heating matter into the UHED conditions is a challenge that even some of today?s most powerful lasers can not reach. We have recently demonstrated that trapping of high contrast femtosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensity deep into aligned nanowire arrays can volumetrically heat near solid density matter to multi-keV temperatures, resulting in Gigabar pressures. These UHED plasmas naturally meet the conditions for the efficient optical energy conversion into X-rays. We will report record conversion efficiency into X-rays and will discuss the physics of these unique plasmas.