title: K(alpha) x-ray emission characterization of 100 Hz, 15 mJ femtosecond laser system with high contrast ratio.
abstract: We report K(alpha) x-ray production with a high energy (110 mJ per pulse at 800 nm before compression/15 mJ at 400 nm after compression), high repetition rate (100 Hz), and high pulse contrast (better than 10(-9) at 400 nm) laser system. To develop laser-based x-ray sources for biomedical imaging requires to use high-energy and high-power ultra-fast laser system where compression is achieved under vacuum. Using this type of laser system, we demonstrate long-term stability of the x-ray yield, conversion efficiency higher than 1.5 x 10(-5) with a Mo target, and the x-ray spot size close to the optical focal spot. This high-repetition K(alpha) x-ray source can be very useful for x-ray phase-contrast imaging.
authors.affiliation: INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, Varennes, J3X 1S2, Canada, fourmaux@emt.inrs.ca.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fourmaux
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serbanescu
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kincaid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kieffer