Improvement of Beam Nonuniformity Smoothing Due to X Radiation in Laser-Driven Layered Targets

Abstract

The effect of laser-beam spatial modulations on plane targets is analyzed as a function of modulation scale length and target material by means of x-ray shadowgraphy. At short laser wavelength it is shown that lateral energy smoothing is clearly improved because of the strong x-ray emission from the irradiated high-$Z$ side of layered targets. The results, interpreted in terms of radiation-driven thermal transport, are in agreement with numerical simulations.