Maximizing MeV x-ray dose in relativistic laser-solid interactions

Bremsstrahlung x-rays generated in laser-solid interactions can be used as light sources for high-energy-density science. We present electron and x-ray spectra from particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo simulations, varying laser pulse intensity and duration at fixed energy of 200$$J. Superponderomotive electron temperatures are observed at low intensity; a new temperature scaling is given that depends on pulse duration and density scale length. Short, high-intensity pulses create low-divergence electron beams before self-generated magnetic fields evolve, resulting in more forward-going MeV x-rays.