Determination of thermalized fraction of intense short-wavelength radiation absorbed in solids: from UV to x-ray lasers

Abstract

This contribution deals with interactions of short-wavelength laser radiation with solids and their thermal and non-thermal consequences. A brief overview is given on materials behaviour under exposure to an intense XUV/x-ray laser pulse.

Differences between thermal and non-thermal processes contributing to the melting of solids and related phase transition phenomena are discussed. Various methods and techniques - both theoretical and experimental - making possible to estimate a portion of thermalized energy within the total pulse energy deposited in solids are described as well.

Initial experiments performed with the NIR thermal imaging camera (FLIR A6700sc) revealed spatio-temporal distribution of temperatures on the surface of an aluminium foil target exposed to mid-UV radiation emitted by KrF excimer laser and on the surface of a germanium monocrystal exposed to X-ray radiation generated by synchrotron.