Numerical Calculations of Laser-Generated MeV Electrons and Characteristic X-Ray Production in Copper Foil Targets

We report on the numerical modeling of laser-produced hot-electron flow within solid foil targets. Using copper targets and parameters motivated by recent RAL experiments,\footnote{ C. Stoeckl\textit{ et al.}, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc \textbf{49}, 104 (2004).} calculations have been performed that include photon production due to collisions of hot electrons with target ions, i.e., both bremsstrahlung and characteristic x rays. The sensitivity of absolute K\textit{$\alpha $} yield to laser intensity and target geometry has been investigated. Comparison between the calculated and experimental yields over a range of laser intensities between 10$^{18}$ and 10$^{21}$ W/cm$^{2}$ are presented. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inertial Confinement Fusion under the Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC52-92SF19460.