Intense high contrast femtosecond K-shell x-ray source from laser-driven Ar clusters

TL;DR

This paper reports a highly intense, ultrafast K-shell x-ray source generated from laser-irradiated argon clusters, with potential for ultrafast imaging applications, emphasizing the importance of laser contrast and energy optimization.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel high-contrast femtosecond x-ray source from Ar clusters, highlighting the role of laser parameters and electron heating mechanisms in optimizing x-ray emission.

Findings

Achieved a flux of 1.1 x 10^4 photons/mrad^2/pulse.

X-ray pulse duration of approximately 10 fs.

Source size of about 20 micrometers.

Abstract

Bright Ar K-shell x-ray with very little background has been generated using an Ar clustering gas jet target irradiated with an 800 mJ, 30 fs ultra-high contrast laser, with the measured flux of 1.1 x 10^4 photons/mrad^2/pulse. This intense x-ray source critically depends on the laser contrast and the laser energy and the optimization of this source with interaction is addressed. Electron driven by laser electric field directly via nonlinear resonant is proved in simulation, resulting in effective electron heating and the enhancement of x-ray emission. The x-ray pulse duration is demonstrated to be only 10 fs, as well as a source size of 20 um, posing great potential application for single-shot ultrafast x-ray imaging.