X-ray emission from laser-produced magnesium plasmas

Abstract
Characteristics of x‐ray emission produced by focusing a 0.5‐GW laser to about 1012 W/cm2 on magnesium metal targets were measured. Approximately 0.01% of the incident laser energy of 10 J was emitted in a 11‐nsec (FWHM) pulse of x rays with photon energy in the range 1.3–1.8 keV.