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Ways to discharge-based soft X-ray lasers with the wavelength λ<15 nm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2008

K. Kolacek*
Affiliation:
Institute of Plasma Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
J. Schmidt
Affiliation:
Institute of Plasma Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
V. Prukner
Affiliation:
Institute of Plasma Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
O. Frolov
Affiliation:
Institute of Plasma Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
J. Straus
Affiliation:
Institute of Plasma Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: K. Kolacek, Institute of Plasma Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Za Slovankou 3, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Two basic ways to amplification of spontaneous emission in the soft X-ray region are described. The first is based on the electron-collisional recombination pumping scheme, which uses recombination of fully stripped ions into hydrogen-like ions to create (in the case of sufficiently fast cooling) a population inversion on energy levels belonging to the Balmer-alpha transition. We test this scheme on nitrogen, for which the lasing wavelength is 13.4 nm. The second way to amplification of spontaneous emission is based on the electron-collisional excitation pumping scheme: this uses for creation of population inversion a fast excitation of Ne- or Ni-like ions. However, for wavelength below 15 nm it is necessary to use Ni-like ions of some metal vapors. Feeding metal vapors into a capillary is difficult, and if being fed they deposit on the capillary wall and significantly reduce the capillary lifetime. That is why we prepare metal vapor plasma in a capillary with liquid wall – by wire explosion in water. For slowdown of the plasma-channel expansion a local-water-compression by linearly focused shock wave is being developed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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References

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