X-ray lasers and methods utilizing two component driving illumination provided by optical laser means of relatively low energy and small physical size

Patent · 01 January 1991

OSTI ID:867821

Rosen, Mordecai D ^[1]; Matthews, Dennis L ^[2]

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1. Berkeley, CA
2. El Granada, CA

An X-ray laser (10), and related methodology, are disclosed wherein an X-ray laser target (12) is illuminated with a first pulse of optical laser radiation (14) of relatively long duration having scarcely enough energy to produce a narrow and linear cool plasma of uniform composition (38). A second, relatively short pulse of optical laser radiation (18) is uniformly swept across the length, from end to end, of the plasma (38), at about the speed of light, to consecutively illuminate continuously succeeding portions of the plasma (38) with optical laser radiation having scarcely enough energy to heat, ionize, and invert them into the continuously succeeding portions of an X-ray gain medium. This inventive double pulse technique results in a saving of more than two orders of magnitude in driving optical laser energy, when compared to the conventional single pulse approach.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5016250
• OSTI ID: 867821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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laser means
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saving
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utilizing
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x-ray lasers