Abstract
We describe our optical-laser-pumped x-ray laser program. Our long-term goal is to develop and utilize a fully coherent, gigowatt-power-level sub-44-Å laser. To this end we have been studying the characteristics of the exploding-foil amplifier coupled with various inversion schemes: Ne-like and Ni-like collisional excitation as well as H-like three-body recombination. Most of our experimental results to date are for the Ne-like schemes; we have observed ~15 laser transitions in Se, Y, and Mo having wavelengths from 26.3 to 10.6 nm. Output power to at least 1 MW has been observed for the Se J = 2 to 1 lines at 20.6 and 20.9 Å along with geometrical divergence patterns for the beam. We have also observed time-dependent beam refraction from these amplifiers and have been able to demonstrate double-pass amplification by using a multilayer mirror operated at normal incidence. Future plans for improving beam coherence and producing lasing at wavelengths shorter than 44 Å are discussed.
© 1987 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
H. G. Ahlstrom
Appl. Opt. 20(11) 1902-1924 (1981)
K. Murai, H. Shiraga, G. Yuan, H. Daido, H. Azuma, E. Miura, R. Kodama, M. Takagi, T. Kanabe, H. Takabe, Y. Kato, D. Neely, D. M. O’Neill, C. L. S. Lewis, and A. Djaoui
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 11(11) 2287-2297 (1994)
D. C. Eder, M. D. Rosen, R. W. Lee, J. E. Trebes, N. M. Ceglio, M. J. Eckart, R. L. Kauffman, B. J. MacGowan, and D. L. Matthews
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4(12) 1949-1953 (1987)