Generation of picosecond hard x rays by tera watt laser focusing on a copper target

Hard x-ray generation from tera-watt laser irradiation (4 TW, 42 fs at 780 nm) on a solid copper target has been studied in a range of the laser-power density between 3×1016 and 2×1017 W/cm2. Short-pulsed x rays are generated within 6.4 ps and include Cu Kα and Kβ line emissions and a continuum between 3 and 6 keV. The maximum intensity of Cu Kα radiation has been estimated to be 6.5×1010 photons (4π sr pulse)−1. The mechanism of hard x-ray generation has been discussed.