Stimulated Raman scattering and x-ray emission from laser-produced plasmas

Abstract

This thesis describes the results of a study of Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and the production and diagnosis of high energy x-ray emission from laser-produced plasmas. It begins with a description of the diagnostics used to measure the x—ray spectrum and uses the results from these instruments, along with observations of scattered light at a frequency close to the laser subharraonic, to deduce the behaviour of SRS in a plasma produced by 20 psec duration laser pulses. The x-ray spectrum is further used to infer that the electron distribution generated via SRS may be non-Maxwellian. It is also shown that if the superthermal x-ray emission is generated in the plasma, as opposed to the solid target material, it may be possible to use the x-ray spectrum to determine the superthermal electron distribution.