Conversion efficiency and spectral broadening of the K-α line emitted from planar titanium targets irradiated with ultra-short laser pulses of high intensity Near complete absorption of the energy of intense ultra-short laser pulses (45 fs, intensity $1.6 Â 10 16 to 2.5 Â 10 17 W/cm 2 ) is observed in carbon nanotubes deposited on a planar molybdenum substrate. The hollow structure of the nanotube plasma facilitates resonant electric field enhancement during its ionization phase. This resonantly enhanced localized field at a density much larger than the critical density n c leads to efficient hot electron generation, which results in enhanced K a emission of Mo at 17.5 keV. It is observed that for nanotubes, depending on the degree of hollowness, there is an optimum laser intensity for maximum x-ray enhancement compared to a planar uncoated target.