Application of a newly developed CCD for spectral-width measurements of a 53 eV germanium laser

We report the application of a soft X-ray CCD for X-ray laser experiments. A newly developed CCD which has a thinned protection layer (SiO₂) of about 0.2 m was attached to a grazing incidence spectrometer with a resolving power of 16000 in order to measure high-resolution spectra of a germanium soft X-ray laser. Clear spectra have been recorded with a high sensitivity in the energy range between 51 eV (240 Å) and 55 eV (225 Å). In addition to the two strong lasing lines at 236 Å and 232 Å, more than 20 weak spontaneous emission lines have been recorded in this energy range. The spectral width of the 236 Å lasing line is approximately 20.5 mÅ at the full width at half maximum. It is shown that this direct X-ray detection system has a spatial resolution of about 1/10 of the CCD pixel size in this spectral measurement.     

Effect of a nonuniform high-frequency electric field on the plasma and some properties of a CO2 laser

It is shown that application of an axially symmetric nonuniform high-frequency field (frequency 1 kHz to 25 MHz) to the positive column of the stationary discharge in a CO₂ gas laser causes a contraction of the column and leads to a reduction in the power of the laser which may be explained by an increase in the gas temperature and the average electron energy and, also, by a reduction in the effective lasing volume.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 67–71, April, 1974.Presented at the Third All-Union Conference on the Physics of Low-Temperature Plasmas, June 21–25, Moscow, 1971 [4].     

Collisional excitation X-ray laser experiments in plasmas produced by 0.53-μm and 0.35-μm laser light

Recent Ne- and Ni-like X-ray laser experiments carried out at the Centre d'Etudes de Limeil-Valenton (CEL-V) are reviewed. A variety of experiments in Ne-like X-ray lasers were performed; here we discuss measurements of soft X-ray amplification in Ge (Z=32) and Sr (Z=38) plasmas. In Ge plasmas produced by 0.53-m laser light at an irradiance of 6.0×10¹³ W/cm², gains between 2.2–2.5 cm^–1 on the 232.2 and 236.2 Å J=2–1 lines and a gain of 1.0 cm^–1 on the 196.1 Å J=0–1 line were measured. In addition, gains of 4.4 cm^–1 and 4.0 cm^–1 have been demonstrated on the J=2–1 transitions at 164.1 and 166.5 Å in Nelike Sr at laser intensities of 1.3×10¹⁴ W/cm². The effects of pumping the Ne-like Se X-ray laser with 0.35-m laser light have also been investigated; the Se lasing spectra is similar to that obtained with 0.53-m light. Experiments have also been carried out to optimize the gain of the 50.3 Å Ni-like Yb (Z=70) J=0–1 line. For Yb, no significant increase in gain over that previously reported was seen, but the time history of the Ni-like Yb X-ray laser was measured for the first time. Finally, attempts to extrapolate the Ni-like results to shorter wavelength were made using Ta (Z=73), W (Z=74), and Re (Z=75). No definitive observation of the Ni-like J=0–1 lasing lines was made in these experiments.     

Lasing near 200 Å with neon-like zinc and lithium-like sulfur

In this paper we present the recent results obtained on X-ray lasers with the new facility of LULI (Palaiseau, France). As regards the study of collisional-excitation pumping we show that the J=0–1 line of neon-like zinc, at 212 Å, exhibits a surprisingly large gain coefficient of 4.9 cm^–1. A detailed comparison of the time-dependent intensities of the J=0–1 and the J=2–1 line at 267 Å leads to the conclusion that these two lines are not emitted in the same region of the plasma. On the other hand we performed a theoretical and experimental study of 5g-4f lasing line of lithium-like sulphur at 206.5 Å. For the first time, in the case of plasma recombination pumping, we did not observe any reduction of the gain coefficient when the plasma length is raised from 1 cm to 2 cm. From numerical simulation this is likely due to radiation trapping and similar processes having much less influence on 5g-4f population inversion than on previously observed lithium-like lasing transitions. These results show that large gain-length values should be obtained with 0.5 kJ driving laser pulses.     

First observation of lasing at 231 Å in neon-like nickel using the prepulse technique

We report lasing for the first time in nickel on the neon-like J=01, 3p3s transition at 231 Å as well as several weaker transitions including the J=2»1 lines at 298 Å and 304 Å. Amplification is seen only when the prepulse technique of using a low intensity prepulse before the main optical drive pulse is used to illuminate the nickel target. The prepulse technique is also shown to produce lasing in copper and dramatically improve the output of the germanium laser.     

Ti-pumped Mo X-ray laser at 24 Å

We propose using the Ti XXI He- emission line to resonantly photo-pump Li-like Mo (Z=42) and produce lasing on several n=5 n=4 transitions near 24 Å. The continuum emission from Ti photoionizes the Mo to the Li-like isoelectronic sequence. Gains of 1–2 cm^–1 are calculated on these lines before the inclusion of Stark broadening which lowers the gain by as much as a factor of two.     

Laser Tunable Source for the Red and Near UV Regions of the Spectrum

The spectral and lasing characteristics of a number of dyes for the red and near IR portions of the lasing spectrum in laser and lamp pumpings are investigated. Smooth tuning of a pulse-periodic lamp-pumped laser in the 660–720 nm range and generation of its second harmonic in the 330–360 nm region were obtained. As a result, the radiation range of the earlier developed tunable laser source has been extended in the red and near UV regions of the spectrum. The use of mixtures of dyes and proton-donating additives in working solutions has substantially improved the energy characteristics of this source.     

Measurement of photon energy and approach angle from an analysis of the tracks of the (e+e−) pair in a multilayer γ-telescope spark chamber

An investigation is made of the problems involved in measuring the characteristics of a photon in the energy range 5–200 MeV with a -telescope whose main recording element is a multilayer spark chamber with an inhomogeneous structure.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 55–58, June, 1979.     

Thermonuclear gain of ICF targets with direct heating of ignitor

As the way of decreasing of the driver energy which is needed for ignition of the LCF targets, the conception of separation of the process of compression of the main mass of the fuel and the process of heating of the ignitor is suggested. Thermonuclear gain of the target with direct heating of the ignitor is calculated. It's shown that using the target with direct heating of the ignitor may lead to considerable decreasing of the driver energy: in (10–20) times for breakeven, and in (5–10) times for thermonuclear gain of 100–300 in comparison with the traditional conception of simultaneous compression and heating of the ICF target.     

Lasers based on vapors of complex organic compounds

The properties of the emission of lasers based on complex organic compounds, in the quasistationary lasing regime, are theoretically investigated with allowance for the induced losses in the spectral lasing region in the system of triplet and excited singlet states of the molecules. The results of the calculations are compared with the experimental data for lasers using POPOP and TOPOT vapors. The thermal endurance of these compounds at T < 600OlaggyK is investigated, the constants of the singlet-triplet conversion and the cross sections for the absorption of the excited singlet molecules TOPOT in the lasing band are determined, and the effectiveness of stabilizing the POPOP and TOPOT vapors by a buffer gas is estimated.The paper contains results of calculations and experiments included in the candidate's dissertation of K. K. Trusov, Investigation of lasers based on vapors of complex organic compounds, Moscow, Physics Institute of the Academy of Sciences, 1978).Translated from Trudy Ordena Lenina Fizicheskogo Instituta im. P. N. Lebedeva, Akademii Nauk SSSR, Vol. 125, pp. 20–45, 1980.     

Saturation intensity for ultrashort-pulse X-ray laser schemes

Analytic expressions are obtained for the saturation intensity in X-ray laser schemes based on short-pulse high-intensity drivers. For field-ionized plasma schemes, the specific mean saturation intensityJ _sat is time independent and depends only on atomic transition probabilities, level degeneracies, and transition energies. The analytic expression is found to be in good agreement with a detailed numerical calculation. Integrating over space and frequency gives a saturation intensityI _sat of order 2 × 10¹¹ W/cm² for lasing in Li-like Ne at 98 . The low input energy requirements for this scheme (< 1 J), associated with using a confocal geometry, give energy efficiencies of order 10^–6 and greater. For inner-shell photo-ionization schemes, an accurate expression for a time-dependent saturation intensity is obtained. This scheme is calculated to have high saturation intensities,I _sat 10¹³ W/cm², at short wavelengths (5–15 ). The requirement of a line focus geometry leads to higher input energies (5 J) and the short duration of lasing (50 fs) results in lower energy efficiencies ( 10^–7). Repetition rates are important in determining appropriate applications for both schemes.     

Enhanced ionic conductivity at the interface between sapphire and solid lithium iodide

We have studied the enhanced ionic conductivity of thin films of LiI evaporated onto a planar sapphire surface carrying interdigital Au-electrodes. The interface conductivity parallel to the surface was measured in situ for increasing film thickness, up to 3,000 Å. The specific conductivity of LiI in the first 300 Å — adjacent to the sapphire — was found to exceed the bulk conductivity of LiI by nearly one order of magnitude. From our observations we conclude that the specific conductivity of LiI decreases exponentially with distance from the sapphire surface reaching the bulk LiI-value only at a distance of 3,000 Å. The conductivity of a 350 Å thick film varies with temperature (25°CT120°C) in accordance with an activation energy of 0.40±0.04 eV. This is in good agreement with the activation energy of bulk LiI in the extrinsic region.     

Quenching of perylene fluorescence by Co2+ ions in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles

We report the fluorescence quenching of perylene by CoCl₂·6H₂O in small unilamellar DPPC vesicles via energy transfer. At the probe-to-lipid ratio of 1200 and quencher to lipid ratios of 12.51, donor-donor energy transfer between clustered perylene molecules was observed as well as energy transfer from the perylene molecules to cobalt ions bothabove andbelow the main phase transition temperature of the lipid. The fluorescence quenching of perylene by CoCl₂·6H₂O in the lipid gel state is shown to be well described by Förster long-range energy transfer when both donor-donor and donor-acceptor energy transfer are considered. In the liquid crystalline phase diffusion of the molecules is described as well as energy transfer. The interaction radiusR ₀ for energy transfer from perylene to Co²⁺ is found to be 13.4±1.1 Å in the gel phase at 303 K, in good agreement with the theoretical value forR ₀ of 13.9 Å. In the liquid crystalline phase at 323 K the lower value obtained forR ₀, 11.3±1.6 Å, is attributed to saturation of the Co²⁺ ions at the interfacial region of the bilayer. A diffusion coefficient of (1.06±0.15)×10^–6 cm² s^–1 is obtained for perylene-cobalt diffusion in the liquid crystalline phase at 323K.     

Calculation of the electron-transfer parameters of thin polycrystalline films of metals

Electron transfer parametrs (scattering coefficient R, crystal-boundary transmission coefficient r, film-surface reflection coefficient) are calculated at temperatues t_msm=120, 293, and 573 K using Sc and Re films as an example. The conditions L d and L < d are satisfied, respectively, for these films (L is the mean diameter of the crystals and d is the thickness of the specimens). The films were obtained in a vacuum of 10^–6-5·10^–7 Pa. In the thickness ranges d200–500 Å (Re) and 300–800 Å (Sc), the films had a mean crystallite size of 250 and 600 Å, respectively. Experimental data on the dimensional effect of the temperature coefficient of resistance was analyzed within the framework of the Mayadas-Shatzkes (MS) theory, the model of isotropic carrier scattering, and the three-dimensional Tellier-Tosser-Pichard (TTP) model. It was concluded that the electrophysical properties of Sc films are satisfactorily described by the TTP model, while the MS theory yields exaggerated values of the coefficients r and p. In the case of films of Re, use was made of the isotropic scattering model and an approximation of the three-dimensional model for polycrystalline films. It was found that the coefficients r and R are independent of temperature.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 42–47, June, 1988.We thank V. B. Lobode and L. G. Kulemzina for their assistance in conducting the investigation.     

The effect of prepulse on X-ray laser development using a powerful subpicosecond KrF laser

A high power UV laser has been developed as a pump source for short wavelength (down to 1 nm) X-ray lasers. Various schemes are considered and theoretical analysis is discussed. Spectroscopic studies of laser-target interaction have been performed and, in particular, the effect of a prepulse on plasma generation has been investigated. Analysis of the observed spectra indicates that reduction of the prepulse energy results in a higher temperature plasma. Investigation of the interaction using thin layered targets is also presented. These data provide evidence for initially hot plasma conditions generated from target layers 150 Å. Discussions of proposed laser schemes at 1–5 nm are presented.Also at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ     

Observation of gain at 54.2 Å on balmer-alpha transition of hydrogenic sodium

Planer stripe and foil targets coated with NaF were irradiated with high intensity 351 nm laser radiation of 130 ps duration. Time-integrated as well as time-resolved measurement of gain on NaXIH at 54.2Å were made. A time-integrated gain of 1.2 _–1.1 ^+0.8 cm^–1 and a time-resolved peak gain of 3.2±1.0 cm^–1 were obtained. A detailed account of the experimental procedures for determination of gain is given.     

Measurement of the light pressure and energy of a laser pulse

A method is described for measuring the light pressure and energy of a laser pulse. The method is based on a transformation of the kinetic energy acquired by a suspended object from the laser pulse into the potential energy of a twisted elastic filament. Comparative measurements are made of the energy radiated by a pulsed ruby laser ( = 6943 Å) by a calorimetric method and by a method based on measurement of the light pressure. This latter method essentially eliminates the influence of the radiometric effect on the measured results. It permits a quite accurate measurement of the light pressure and energy of a laser pulse at pressures of the order of 10^–5 torr and below.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, Vol.12, No. 6, pp. 48–54, June, 1969.     

Monte Carlo simulation of spin-aligned atomic hydrogen

The density dependent ground-state properties of spin-aligned atomic hydrogen are studied using the Monte Carlo technique for 32 and 128 atoms in a cube with periodic boundary conditions. The one-particle density matrix, the two-body correlation function, the structure and pairing function have been evaluated and are compared to other recent work. The total number of particles in the condensate is largest at a density 6·10^–3 Å^–3 and amounts to ⁰=2.03·10^–3Å^–3. In addition, the elementary excitation spectrum is discussed in the framework of the Brueckner-Sawada theory. The correct initial slope of the spectrum is obtained from variational results on the structure function. From these results one may tentatively conclude that the roton like part of the spectrum disappears at densities less than 10^–2 Å^–3.     

Electron states of manganese luminescence centres in A1N

The energy spectrum of manganese luminescence centres in AlN was studied by means of excitation and emission spectra. Two regions of excitation were found: in the first region (from 40 000 to 31 000 cm^–1) excitation occurs as a result of transfer of energy from other impurity centres to the manganese centres; in the second region (from 26 000 to 17 000 cm^–1) the manganese centres are excited directly. In the excitation band with a peak at about 19 200 cm^–1 a phonon structure was observed having a temperature dependence analogous to that of the phonon structure of the emission band. The phonon energy at excitation differs from that at emission (_exc260 cm^–1, _em160 cm^–1). A scheme of electron-phonon levels of manganese centres in AlN is presented, and problems relating to the structure of these centres are discussed.Na Slovance 2, Praha 8, Czechoslovakia.The authors would like to thank Dr. L. Kratina and Dr. F. Kubec (Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences), who kindly performed the EPR measurements, and to Professor M. Trlifaj and Dr. J. Pastrák for valuable discussions.     

Reliable measurement of the optical and dielectric parameters of liquid carbon tetrachloride in the wavelength region

The power absorption coefficient, the refractive index and the loss tangent data for carbon tetrachloride are presented in the region 3 mm–50 m (3 cm^–1–200 cm^–1). The data are compared with microwave and submillimeter wave literature values. The integrated band intensity and the integrated absorption intensity of the millimeter and submillimeter wave band and octopole moment are calculated and compared.