XUV Laser Research At The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Recent advances in research work by a consortium of UK groups using facilities at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to develop XUV lasers is reviewed. Experimental demonstration of laser action by recombination to hydrogenic ions has been extrapolated from C VI 18.2 nm to Mg XII at 4.5 nm, in a collaborative experiment with Osaka University using the GEKKO XII laser. Recombination to lithium-like ions has been investigated in collaboration with the University of Orsay. High gain x length producing a useful XUV laser beam has been obtained using the collisionally excited Ge XXIII 3p-3s laser at 23.2/23.6 nm in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory. Future possibilities for XUV lasers pumped by more powerful primary lasers are considered.