X-ray-line diagnostic of magnetic field strength for high-temperature plasmas

An x-ray line diagnostic for use in magnetic field measurements in high-temperature plasmas has been identified. The intensity of the otherwise strictly forbidden 1s(2)2s(2)2p(1/2)2p(4)(3/2)3s(1/2) 3P0-->1s(2)2s(2)2p(6) 1S0 transition in neonlike ions is shown to depend on the magnetic field strength. The field dependence is illustrated between one and 3 T in the Ar8+ spectrum. The line is well resolved, bright, and close to reference lines, making it an experimentally simple to use diagnostic.     

Demonstration of a neonlike argon soft-x-ray laser with a picosecond-laser-irradiated gas puff target

We demonstrate a neonlike argon-ion x-ray laser, using a short-pulse laser-irradiated gas puff target. The gas puff target was formed by pulsed injection of gas from a high-pressure solenoid valve through a nozzle in the form of a narrow slit and irradiated with a combination of long, 600-ps and short, 6-ps high-power laser pulses with a total of 10 J of energy in a traveling-wave excitation scheme. Lasing was observed on the 3p (1)S(0)?3s (1)P(1) transition at 46.9 nm and the 3d (1)P(1)?3p (1)P(1) transition at 45.1 nm. A gain of 11 cm(-1) was measured on these transitions for targets up to 0.9 cm long.     

Gain saturation regime for laser-driven tabletop, transient Ni-like ion X-Ray lasers

We have demonstrated small signal gain saturation on several transient-gain Ni-like ion x-ray lasers by using a high-power, chirped-pulse amplification, tabletop laser. These results have been achieved at wavelengths from 139-203 A using a total of 5-7 J energy in a traveling-wave excitation scheme. Strong amplification is also observed for Ni-like Sn at 119 A. Gain of 62 cm(-1) and gL product of 18 are determined on the 4d-->4p transition for Ni-like Pd at 147 A with an output energy of 12 &mgr;J. A systematic evaluation of the laser driver parameters yields optimum beam divergence and small deflection angles of 2-5 mrads, in good agreement with simulations.