Production of exotic states of matter with the use of X-rays generated by focusing a petawatt laser pulse onto a solid target

Abstract

The possibility is discussed of using optical laser radiation with a êux density of b 10 20 W cm À2 to create an ultraintense X-ray source capable of producing polychromatic radiation with a power êux density of 10 19 W cm À2 or higher. The X-ray radiation of so high an intensity permits not only transforming a condensed target to a plasma state but also obtaining an exotic plasma state with a high density of hollow ions. Currently still not in wide use and available in only a few laboratories in the world, lasers with a êux density of about 10 20 W cm À2 are more compact and lower-cost compared to free-electron X-ray lasers or lasers used for the indirect heating of fusion targets. The source under discussion can produce by far higher X-ray intensities than plasma X-ray lasers of a similar scale.

Auger decay and natural lifetime widths of single and double K-shell vacancy states of Al4+–Al11+ ions

“…KK hollow atoms were also observed in the interaction of thin Al foils with the petawatt Vulcan laser at pulse intensity of 3×10 20 W cm −2 [6]. A number of experimental measurements on the petawatt and subpetawatt scale on thin aluminum targets [7][8][9][10][11] indicated the formation of ions with empty K-shell.…”