Abstract

In recent years the interaction of ultra-short (<1-ps) pulse lasers with solid targets has attracted much interest, largely because of the possibility of producing short bursts of x-rays from the resulting plasmas. These pulses of x-rays are expected to be of sufficiently short duration that they hold promise of time-resolved structural and electronic studies of solids, gases, and plasmas. In addition, the interaction of subpicosecond pulses with solid material provides a unique method of measuring properties of most materials at extremely elevated temperatures but nearly constant density. We present the results from several experiments in our laboratory concerning the properties of these special plasmas and the radiation they produce: e.g., the measurement of electron temperature as a function of laser fluence; the derivation of the changes in electrical conductivity with increasing electron temperature over the 1- 100-eV range; and measurement of the pulse duration of the x-ray emission near 100 eV.

© 1990 Optical Society of America