Bright X-ray source from a laser-driven micro-plasma-waveguide

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a laser-driven micro-plasma-waveguide can serve as a compact, bright x-ray source by efficiently accelerating and wiggling electrons, producing collimated hard x-ray emission.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of micro-plasma-waveguides as a compact x-ray source using high-contrast femtosecond laser pulses.

Findings

Efficient electron acceleration inside the MPW.

Generation of collimated hard x-ray emission.

X-ray energies in the range of 1-100 keV.

Abstract

Owing to the rapid progress in laser technology, very high-contrast femtosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensities become available. These pulses allow for interaction with micro-structured solid-density plasma without destroying the structure by parasitic pre-pulses. This opens a new realm of possibilities for laser interaction with micro- and nano-scales photonic materials at the relativistic intensities. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that when coupling with a readily available 1.8 Joule laser, a micro-plasma-waveguide (MPW) may serve as a novel compact x-ray source. Electrons are extracted from the walls and form a dense self-organized helical bunch inside the channel. These electrons are efficiently accelerated and wiggled by the waveguide modes in the MPW, which results in a bright, well-collimated emission of hard x-rays in the range of 1~100 keV.