X-RAY-EMISSION FROM THIN-FOIL LASER-PRODUCED PLASMAS

We studied X-ray emission from laser plasmas produced by irradiation of thin plastic foils with 1.064-mu-m Nd laser light at intensity up to 2 x 10(13) W/cm2 with 3-ns pulses. The level of X-ray emission at different spectral windows was measured versus laser intensity and foil thickness. The electron temperature of the X-ray source was also measured. At intensity above 6 x 10(12) W/cm2 our data showed the formation of nonthermal tails in the X-ray spectrum, which has been related to two plasmon decay instability.