Laser plasma x-ray source

This patent describes a plasma-generated X- ray source. It comprises a laser pulse generator for making a template laser pulse, the template laser pulse having a time duration equal to a first time period; a laser amplifier medium having an excited region which is excited for a time duration equal to a second time period wherein the second time period is longer than the first time period, such that when the template pulse propagates in the excited region of the medium, energy is transferred from the laser medium to the template pulse thereby increasing the energy of the template pulse producing an amplified template pulse having a time duration substantially equal to the first time period; and an optical transport system for delivering the amplified template pulse to a target material causing the target material to form a plasma from which X-rays are emitted