Self photo-pumped neon-like and nickel-like X-ray lasers
A new x-ray laser mechanism is presented which uses radiation trapping of the strongest 3d {r_arrow} 2p neon-like resonance line in an optically thick plasma to create an intense radiation field which radiatively drives population from the neon-like ground state to the 3d state, which then lases to a pair of 3p states. Collisional mixing of the 3p states with nearby 3s and 3d states depopulates the lower laser states. Modeling is presented for this mechanism in neon-like argon. Strong gain is predicted on the two 3d {r_arrow} transitions at 45.1 nm and 46.5 nm, the first of which has been observed in recent x-ray laser experiments using an argon gas puff. The 3d {r_arrow} 3p line has also been observed at 60 and 30 nm, respectively, in x-ray laser experiments recently done on sulfur targets using the prepulse technique and on titanium targets driven by a nsed pulse followed by a psec pulse. This pumping mechanism also enhances the gain of the two 3p {r_arrow} 3s, J = O {r_arrow} 1 transitions which are at 43.1 and 46.9 nm in argon. This generic scheme can also work in other ionization stages. In nickel-like ions, the analogous process of lasing on the 4f {r_arrow} 4d transitions due to photo-pumping by the strong 4f {r_arrow} 3d lines will be discussed.
- 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:
- 276940
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC--123520; CONF-9606137--1; ON: DE96012516
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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