K(alpha) fluorescence measurement of relativistic electron transport in the context of fast ignition

• Published in: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 69; no. 6 Pt 2; p. 066414
• Main Authors: Stephens, R B, Snavely, R A, Aglitskiy, Y, Amiranoff, F, Andersen, C, Batani, D, Baton, S D, Cowan, T, Freeman, R R, Hall, T, Hatchett, S P, Hill, J M, Key, M H, King, J A, Koch, J A, Koenig, M, MacKinnon, A J, Lancaster, K L, Martinolli, E, Norreys, P, Perelli-Cippo, E, Rabec Le Gloahec, M, Rousseaux, C, Santos, J J, Scianitti, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-2004
• ISSN: 1539-3755

Electron transport within solid targets, irradiated by a high-intensity short-pulse laser, has been measured by imaging K(alpha) radiation from high- Z layers (Cu, Ti) buried in low- Z (CH, Al) foils. Although the laser spot is approximately 10 microm [full width at half maximum (FWHM)], the electron beam spreads to > or =70 microm FWHM within <20 microm of penetration into an Al target then, at depths >100 microm, diverges with a 40 degree spreading angle. Monte Carlo and analytic models are compared to our data. We find that a Monte Carlo model with a heuristic model for the electron injection gives a reasonable fit with our data.