Conversion of laser light into soft x rays. Part I: Dimensional analysis.

The conversion of laser light into soft x rays by irradiation of a high-Z material is theoretically investigated for open, planar geometry. The material may be subdivided into a hot, low-density conversion layer, optically thin for the x rays, and a dense, optically thick reemission zone. The two layers are coupled through radiation only. Dimensional analysis yields asymptotic expressions for the x-ray conversion efficiency and the reemission coefficient and hence for the total converted flux from the target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]