Population inversion and gain measurements for soft x-ray-laser development in a magnetically confined plasma column
We present population inversion and gain measurements from an experimental investigation of possibilities to obtain high gain and lasing action in the soft x-ray region. Our approach to soft x-ray-laser development is based on rapid plasma cooling after the laser pulse by radiation losses, leading to fast recombination and collisional cascade into upper excited levels of CVI, for example, while the lower excited levels depopulate rapidly by radiative transitions, thus creating population inversions and gain. A approx. = 0.5 kJ CO/sub 2/ laser was focused onto a target of solid carbon or teflon; or CO/sub 2/, O/sub 2/, Ne gas, and the resulting plasma confined in a 50 to 90 kG magnetic field. Spectroscopic diagnostics with absolute intensity calibration were used to measure level populations.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03073
- OSTI ID:
- 5767605
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-2003; ON: DE83014917; TRN: 83-019287
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
POPULATION INVERSION
X-RAY LASERS
CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
COOLING
ENERGY LOSSES
GAIN
LASER TARGETS
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
SOFT X RADIATION
SPECTROSCOPY
AMPLIFICATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
GAS LASERS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LASERS
LOSSES
NONMETALS
TARGETS
X RADIATION
420300* - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)
700208 - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology