X-ray radiation protection aspects during ultrashort laser processing

Ultrashort pulse laser processing of materials allows for precise machining with high accuracy. By increasing the repetition rate to several 100 kHz, laser machining becomes quick and cost-effective. Ultrafast laser processing at high repetition rates and peak intensities above 1013 W/cm2 can cause a potential hazard by generation of unwanted x-ray radiation. Therefore, radiation protection must be considered. For 925 fs pulse duration at a center wavelength of 1030 nm, the x-ray emission in air at a repetition rate of 400 kHz was investigated up to a peak intensity of 2.6 × 1014 W/cm2. Based on the presented measurements, the properties of potential shielding materials will be discussed. By extending our previous works, a scaling of the x-ray radiation emission to higher peak intensities up to 1015 W/cm2 is described, and emitted x-ray doses are predicted.