A review focused on plasma induced on solid target by GW-level pulsed laser source is presented. A description of the Tor Vergata laser-plasma source (TVLPS), at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, is given. Such a facility uses a 1？ GW, tabletop, multistage Nd:YAG/Glass laser system, delivering infrared (IR) pulses with nanosecond width and 1064？nm wavelength (TEM00 mode). Its applications are discussed providing: wide analysis of IR → soft X-ray conversion efficiency (1.3–1.55？keV); measures and modeling of line emission in soft X-ray spectra, such as those from zinc plasma near Ne-like Zn XXI and from barium plasma near Ni-like Ba XXIX. Particular attention is devoted to high-n dielectronic Rydberg satellites for finding a useful diagnostic tool for plasma conditions. Dependence of plasma spectra on laser parameters is shown. Finally, microradiography applications are presented for thin biological samples. Images permit to visualize specific structures and detect bioaccumulation sites due to contamination from pollutants. 1. Introduction Plasma [1] is a particular state of the matter beside ordinary solid, liquid, and gaseous ones usually called fourth state. It is constituted by neutral atoms, negative (electrons) and positive (ions) charged particles subjected to the action of long-range electromagnetic fields, governing the motion, and able to produce electric and magnetic forces. The charge separation can be properly generated by heating the matter to high temperatures (around 104°C at least), giving a validation of the plasma definition in terms of high-temperature ionized gas. It represents an interesting, original, very intricate matter state whose study has required the development of specific scientific disciplines and advanced research fields. The survey of the matter in the plasma state is important, because it constitutes the 99% of the universe matter. Specifically, the stars (e.g., the sun) are the more common and prevailing examples of natural plasmas. Here, temperatures can achieve the hundreds of millions of degrees, and the produced high energies cannot be explained in terms of chemical reactions but only by nuclear fusion processes induced by high temperatures. It is also possible to generate plasma in artificial way for scientific and industrial purposes. This usually occurs in research laboratories and industries, especially for surveys in the fields of the radiation-matter interaction, mechanical processing (welding, cutting, drilling, etc.), and material treatment, such as the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD).
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