Experimental study of X-ray generation in laser-produced plasmas based on K-shell time-resolved spectroscopy

Soft-X-ray generation in aluminium plasmas produced by Nd nano-second laser pulses is investigated analysing time-resolved spectra ofK-shell line emission. Time histories of line emission and electron temperature as well as the time-integrated X-ray yield were studied as a function of laser pulse duration and target position along the laser beam propagation axis. The experimental results suggest that X-ray emission is influenced by self-focusing of laser light in the plasma.