Tabletop X-ray Lasers

Authors

D. C. Eder, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
P. Amendt, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
L. B. DaSilva, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
R. A. London, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
B. J. MacGowan, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
D. L. Matthews, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
B. M. Penetrante, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
M. D. Rosen, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
S. C. Silks, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Thomas D. Donnelly, Harvey Mudd CollegeFollow
R. W. Falcone, University of California - Berkeley
G. L. Strobel, University of Georgia

Document Type

Article

Department

Physics (HMC)

Publication Date

5-1994

Abstract

Details of schemes for two tabletop size x‐ray lasers that require a high‐intensity short‐pulse driving laser are discussed. The first is based on rapid recombination following optical‐field ionization. Analytical and numerical calculations of the output properties are presented. Propagation in the confocal geometry is discussed and a solution for x‐ray lasing in Li‐like N at 247 Å is described. Since the calculated gain coefficient depends strongly on the electron temperature, the methods of calculating electron heating following field ionization are discussed. Recent experiments aimed at demonstrating lasing in H‐like Li at 135 Å are discussed along with modeling results. The second x‐ray laser scheme is based on the population inversion obtained during inner‐shell photoionization by hard x rays. This approach has significantly higher‐energy requirements, but lasing occurs at very short wavelengths (λ ≤ 15 Å). Experiments that are possible with existing lasers are discussed.

Comments

This article is also available from the American Institute of Physics at http://link.aip.org/link/doi/10.1063/1.870936.

Rights Information

© 1994 American Institute of Physics

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

DOI

10.1063/1.870936

Recommended Citation

D.C. Eder, P. Amendt, L.B. Da Silva, R.A. London, B.J. MacGowan, D.L. Matthews, B.M. Penetrante, M.D. Rosen, S.C. Wilks, T.D. Donnelly, R.W. Falcone, G.L. Strobel, "Tabletop x-ray lasers," Physics of Plasmas (formerly Physics of Fluids B) 1, 1744 (1994).