Demonstration of a low electromagnetic pulse laser-driven argon gas jet x-ray source

Laser-produced plasmas are often used as bright x-ray backlighters for time-resolved plasma diagnostics, but such backlighters simultaneously generate damaging electromagnetic pulse (EMP). A laser-driven Ar gas jet x-ray source has been measured with magnetic flux B-dot probes to produce 20 times ±37% less integrated EMP in the 0.5–2.5 GHz band than a solid chlorinated plastic foil, while retaining 85% of the laser to ≈3 keV x-ray conversion efficiency. These results are important for future backlighter development, since tailoring target density may provide a way to reduce EMP even as laser power increases.