Optically-ionized plasma recombination x-ray lasers

Conference · Fri Jan 18 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6257120

Amendt, P; Eder, D C; Wilks, S C; Dunning, M J; Keane, C J

Design studies for recombination x-ray lasers based on plasmas ionized by high intensity, short pulse optical lasers are presented. Transient lasing on n = 3 to n = 2 transitions in Lithium-like Neon allows for moderately short wavelengths ({le} 100{angstrom}) without requiring ionizing intensities associated with relativistic electron quiver energies. The electron energy distribution following the ionizing pulse affects directly the predicted gains for this resonance transition. Efficiencies of 10{sup {minus}6} or greater are found for plasma temperatures in the vicinity of 40 eV. Simulation studies of parametric heating phenomena relating to stimulated Raman and Compton scattering are presented. For electron densities less than about 2.5 {times} 10{sup 20} cm{sup {minus}3} and peak driver intensity of 2 {times} 10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2} at 0.25 {mu}m with pulse length of 100 fsec, the amount of electron heating is found to be marginally significant. For Lithium-like Aluminum, the required relativistic ionizing intensity gives excessive electron heating and reduced efficiency, thereby rendering this scheme impractical for generating shorter wavelength lasing ({le} 50{angstrom}) in the transient case. Following the transient lasing phase, a slow hydrodynamic expansion into the surrounding cool plasma is accompanied by quasi-static gain on the n = 4 to n = 3 transition in Lithium-like Neon. Parametric heating effects on gain optimization in this regime are also discussed. 18 refs., 6 figs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6257120
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-106272; CONF-910123--7; ON: DE91007261
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
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ALUMINIUM IONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPTON EFFECT
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUATIONS
HEATING
INTERACTIONS
IONS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
NEON IONS
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING
PROGRESS REPORT
RAMAN EFFECT
RECOMBINATION
SAHA EQUATION
SCATTERING
X-RAY LASERS