Hydrogenlike magnesium x-ray laser design

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859220· OSTI ID:6253757

Eder, D C ^[1]

---

1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA (USA)

Design calculations for a hydrogenlike magnesium recombination x-ray laser driven by a 20 psec optical laser are presented. Results for narrow free-standing magnesium and magnesium fluoride strip targets and the more realizable situation of a lasant strip supported on a thin plastic backing are compared. Accurate modeling of the hydrodynamic expansion of the composite targets is achieved by the use of distinct zoning in the plastic and the lasant strip. The effect of the backing is shown to be largest for strips that are narrow and thin. The gain coefficient for the 3{ital d}{sub 5/2}{endash}2{ital p}{sub 3/2} transition in pure magnesium is calculated to be approximately a factor of 2.5 larger than for magnesium fluoride strips without photon trapping. In contrast, including photon trapping causes the gains to be comparable leading to the possibility of an experiment to test trapping. General principles of target design are discussed, as well as specific targets suitable for the Nova two-beam laser (Rev. Sci. Instrum. {bold 57}, 2101 (1986)).

• OSTI ID: 6253757
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 2:12; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
AMPLIFICATION
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
EXPANSION
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAIN
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDRODYNAMICS
LASERS
LIFETIME
MAGNESIUM
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM FLUORIDES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
METALS
OPTICAL PUMPING
PUMPING
RECOMBINATION
TARGETS
X-RAY LASERS