Investigation by simulation of X-ray beams produced via interactions of suitable quasi-monoenergetic electrons with solid targets

Abstract

X-ray generation by interactions of quasi-monoenergetic electrons with solid lead targets is studied. Various electron energy spectra generated by a laser-plasma accelerator are employed to generate Bremsstrahlung and characteristic X-rays. These X-ray photons are simulated by using the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP). The present work is mainly focused on exploring the influence of two parameters of the electron profile, the peak energy (Ep) and the pulse width (ΔE), on X-ray generation. If an electron source with higher Ep and smaller ΔE is used, the efficiency of X-ray creation is found to be increased in thick targets. However, in thin samples, the electron profile with lower Ep and larger ΔE dominates.