Systems and methods for generating tunable x-ray emissions including a tunable x-ray source that includes a driver, such as a laser, configured to generate one or more driver pulses, such as one or more laser pulses, and a target source configured to emit a target material. The target source is arranged so that the emitted target material intersects a propagation axis of the driver pulse(s) and the target source may be configured so that the emitted target material has a tailored density profile along the propagation axis of the driver pulse(s), the tailored density profile along the propagation axis having a first density peak region followed by a lower density region followed by a second density peak region, e.g., in an M shape.

Charged particles are accelerated in a direct-current synchrotron, wherein a plurality of achromatic magnets define an acceleration device. A beam of charged particles is directed toward one of the magnets, and the charged-particle beam penetrates a gap in the magnet and is repeatedly redirected through an arc of at least 270 via inverse reflection at each of the achromatic magnets to produce a series of beam lines that form a circuit in which the charge-particle beam is accelerated over successive passes through the circuit. The achromatic magnets generate a constant magnetic field. The charged particles can then be extracted from the acceleration device.

Charged particles are accelerated in a direct-current synchrotron, wherein a plurality of achromatic magnets define an acceleration device. A beam of charged particles is directed toward one of the magnets, and the charged-particle beam penetrates a gap in the magnet and is repeatedly redirected through an arc of at least 270 via inverse reflection at each of the achromatic magnets to produce a series of beam lines that form a circuit in which the charge-particle beam is accelerated over successive passes through the circuit. The achromatic magnets generate a constant magnetic field. The charged particles can then be extracted from the acceleration device.

A method for controlling the speed of a laser pulse includes a step of applying a chirp to the pulse; and a step of focusing the pulse by means of an optical system having a longitudinal chromatic aberration; whereby an intensity peak of the pulse moves along a propagation axis following, over a finite propagation length, a speed profile dependent on the chirp and on the longitudinal chromatic aberration. The use of such a method for accelerating particles via laser, and a system for implementing such a method, are also provided.

A method of irradiating a target with a high power density irradiation beam is described. The method can use an irradiation system configured to output an irradiation beam through a vacuum window. The irradiation beam is scanned repetitively back and forth between two angular orientations of the irradiation beam as the irradiation beam strikes and traverses the vacuum window. The target is moved as the irradiation beam is scanned. The irradiation beam and the target are aligned. The scanning of the irradiations beam and the moving of the target are synchronized to each other. The scanning of the irradiation beam prevents localized overheating of the vacuum window and allows the irradiation beam to have a power density that would damage the vacuum window if the irradiation beam were not scanned.

A method for increasing the MeV hot electron yield and secondary radiation produced by short-pulse laser-target interactions with an appropriately high or low atomic number (Z) target. Secondary radiation, such as MeV x-rays, gamma-rays, protons, ions, neutrons, positrons and electromagnetic radiation in the microwave to sub-mm region, can be used, e.g., for the flash radiography of dense objects.

A method of irradiating a target with a high power density irradiation beam is described. The method can use an irradiation system configured to output an irradiation beam through a vacuum window. The irradiation beam is scanned repetitively back and forth between two angular orientations of the irradiation beam as the irradiation beam strikes and traverses the vacuum window. The target is moved as the irradiation beam is scanned. The irradiation beam and the target are aligned. The scanning of the irradiations beam and the moving of the target are synchronized to each other. The scanning of the irradiation beam prevents localized overheating of the vacuum window and allows the irradiation beam to have a power density that would damage the vacuum window if the irradiation beam were not scanned.

A laser-plasma-based acceleration system includes a focusing element and a laser pulse emission directing a laser beam to the focusing element to such that laser pulses transform into a focused beam and a chamber defining a nozzle having a throat and an exit orifice, emitting a critical density range gas jet from the exit orifice for laser wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. the critical density range gas jet intersects the focused beam at an angle and in proximity to the exit orifice of the nozzle to define a point of intersection between the focused beam and the critical density range gas jet. In intersection with the critical density range gas jet, the pulsed focused beam drives a laser plasma wakefield relativistic electron beam. A corresponding method of laser-plasma-based acceleration is also described. The critical density range may include 210.sup.20 cm.sup.3 to 510.sup.21 cm.sup.3.

A laser-plasma-based acceleration system includes a focusing element and a laser pulse emission directing a laser beam to the focusing element to such that laser pulses transform into a focused beam and a chamber defining a nozzle having a throat and an exit orifice, emitting a critical density range gas jet from the exit orifice for laser wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. the critical density range gas jet intersects the focused beam at an angle and in proximity to the exit orifice of the nozzle to define a point of intersection between the focused beam and the critical density range gas jet. In intersection with the critical density range gas jet, the pulsed focused beam drives a laser plasma wakefield relativistic electron beam. A corresponding method of laser-plasma-based acceleration is also described. The critical density range may include 210.sup.20 cm.sup.3 to 510.sup.21 cm.sup.3.

A collision reaction pool ion acceleration apparatus which has extremely low crosstalk. The apparatus comprises an apparatus body, a vacuum chamber, a first tube bundle channel and a second tube bundle channel. The vacuum chamber is fixedly connected to the interior of the apparatus body; the other end of the interior of the apparatus body is fixedly connected to a first insulation seat. A collision chamber is embeddedly connected to the inside the first insulation seat, and a high-frequency electrode quadrupole lens is fixedly connected to two sides of the collision chamber. When charged ions enter the collision chamber, the high-frequency electrode quadrupole lens focuses on the charged ions, so that the incoming charged ions form a new motion trajectory in the collision chamber, and the charged ions are easily separated from the collision chamber, thereby increasing the working efficiency.