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A continuum spectrum of X-rays, originating from the interaction of a moderate intensity nanosecond Nd:Yag laser (1064 nm, 9 ns, 30 Hz, 900 mJ, 10 11 W/cm 2 ) with metal targets producing plasma, is investigated. The photon emission intensity is particularly high when the plasma expands in a low-pressure gas. The photon energy is measured through selective thin absorber films employed in front of the solid state detector. The temperature of the hot electrons generated from the plasma, responsible for the continuum spectrum emission, is calculated from the fit of the X-ray spectrum with a Maxwellian distribution, and it is about 1–2 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We review here our work on the photonic and sensor applications of nanostructured silicon. As we change the dimensionality of silicon very fascinating and new optical properties of the material appear. Light sources, modulators, waveguides, logical gates are a few examples of the various photonic devices which have been developed based on silicon nanocrystals. Needless to say, all these devices rely on quantum confinement and on the interplay between bulk and surface properties. Size effects and surface reconstructions are two critical issues which one has to master to employ silicon nanocrystals. Finally the use of silicon nanocrystals to develop innovative sensing mechanisms to reveal biomolecules or poisoning gasses will be discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]