Progress in understanding and improving X-ray lasers
We discuss the use of a prepulse technique to achieve lasing in low-Z neon-like ions on the 3p {yields} 3s(J = 0 {yields} 1) transition. In neon-like titanium(Z=22), chromium(Z=24), iron(Z=26), nickel(Z=28), zinc(Z=30), and germanium(Z=32) this transition lases at 326, 285, 255, 231, 212 and 196 {Angstrom} respectively. We present results using this technique on selenium(Z=34) and show how the J = 0 {yields} 1 transition at 182 {Angstrom} suddenly becomes a strong line. The observation that the low-Z ions with odd Z have not lased lead us to investigate the potential impact of hyperfine splitting on the laser gain. In our experiments we measure the lineshape of the 3p {yields} 3s(J = 0 {yields} 1) transition in neon-like niobium and zirconium and observe a 28 m{Angstrom} splitting between the two largest hyperfine components in the niobium(Z=41) line at 145.9 in good agreement with theory. In zirconium(Z=40), no splitting is observed since the hyperfine effect is proportional to the nuclear moment, and the principal isotopes of zirconium have zero nuclear moment, as is typical for even-Z elements. Finally we discuss the use of low density foams for the laser target and present results which show lasing in zirconium aerogel with an initial density of 90 mg/cm{sup 3}.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 10130348
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC--116080; CONF-931237--6; ON: DE94006048
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Hyperfine splittings, prepulse technique, and other new results for collisional excitation neon-like X-ray lasers
Hyperfine splittings, prepulse technique, and other new results for collisional excitation neon-like X-ray lasers