Design and optimization of recombination extreme-ultraviolet lasers

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Phys Fluids B; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859089· OSTI ID:6877035

Epstein, R

Recent evidence for amplification of the Balmer-alpha line of hydrogenlike carbon in a recombining plasma (Opt. Commun. 54, 289 (1985)) raises the question of the relative importance of radiative cooling in this experiment and of the role of radiative cooling in optimizing future experiments. This paper approaches this question using results from hydrodynamic and atomic-kinetic simulations of this experiment and some hypothetical variations. A new feature of these simulations is the use of an explicit nonlocal treatment of the Doppler-enhanced escape probability of resonance radiation to take into account opacity effects that are an important limitation of this and many other extreme-ultraviolet and x-ray laser schemes. It is shown that short-pulse (/similar to/100 psec) illumination and cylindrical expansion are very important. Mixing is required for effective cooling of the carbon by a radiative coolant, but the resulting dilution of the lasant reduces the gain coefficient. It is found that amplification cannot be obtained with the prolonged heating caused by long (600 psec) pulses, even with radiative cooling. Gain results comparable to those of other workers have been obtained in simulations of hypothetical cases.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623-1299
• OSTI ID: 6877035
• Journal Information: Phys Fluids B; (United States), Journal Name: Phys Fluids B; (United States) Vol. 1:1; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFICATION
ATOMS
DESIGN
DOPPLER EFFECT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUID MECHANICS
GAIN
GAS LASERS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LASERS
MECHANICS
OPTIMIZATION
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
RECOMBINATION
RESONANCE
SIMULATION
SOFT X RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
X RADIATION