Small-scale soft x-ray laser excited by a fast discharge: realization and characterization

Experiments conducted at Colorado State University, which resulted in the first demonstration of large soft x-ray amplification in a discharge-created plasma, are reviewed. The most recent measurements, conducted in capillary discharges up to 20 cm in length, have yielded an amplification of approximately equals exp(14) in the 46.9 nm line of Ne-like argon. The dependence of the line intensity with discharge parameters and the dynamics of the capillary plasma column under lasing conditions are reported. Prospects for laser operation at shorter wavelengths are also discussed.

[1]  M. Marconi,et al.  Discharge-driven 46.9-nm amplifier with gain-length approaching saturation , 1995 .

[2]  H. Kunze,et al.  Observation of gain at 18.22 nm in the carbon plasma of a capillary discharge , 1990 .

[3]  Keane,et al.  Amplification of stimulated soft x-ray emission in a confined plasma column. , 1985, Physical review letters.

[4]  M. Marconi,et al.  Proposal for soft-x-ray and XUV lasers in capillary discharges. , 1988, Optics letters.

[5]  Midorikawa,et al.  Soft-x-ray amplification of the Lyman- alpha transition by optical-field-induced ionization. , 1993, Physical review letters.

[6]  J. Goodberlet,et al.  Amplification in Ni-like Nb at 204.2 Å pumped by a table-top laser , 1993 .

[7]  J. Goodberlet,et al.  Observation of gain in a recombining H-like boron plasma , 1995 .

[8]  Rocca,et al.  Efficient generation of highly ionized calcium and titanium plasma columns for collisionally excited soft-x-ray lasers in a fast capillary discharge. , 1993, Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics.

[9]  Capillary discharge extreme ultraviolet lasers. Final report, December 15, 1990--February 28, 1994. Demonstration of a discharge pumped table-top soft x-ray laser , 1994 .

[10]  Jorge J. Rocca,et al.  Experiments on soft x-ray laser development in a tabletop capillary discharge , 1992, Optics & Photonics.

[11]  Kim,et al.  Soft-x-ray amplification in a capillary discharge. , 1994, Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics.

[12]  Szymon Suckewer,et al.  Tabletop soft x-ray laser development , 1994, Optics & Photonics.