Professor Justin Wark

Abstract:

We report here the experiments of the saturated Ni-like x-ray lasers at 14 -6 nm from a refraction compensating double target driven at 20 TW.cm(-2) by a pair of 75 ps Nd-glass laser pulses separated by 2.2 ns. The output source size as well as the time history, divergence, energy and spatial profile of the output beams of the Ni-like x-ray lasers have been fully characterised. The narrow divergence (similar to 1 mrad), short pulse duration (similar to 40 ps), high efficiency (similar to 10(-6)) and high brightness (similar to 10(25) photons.s(-1).mm(-2).mrad(-2) of these Ni-like x-ray lasers make them ideal candidates for x-ray laser applications.

Abstract:

In order to understand the improved performance of Ni-like x-ray lasers driven by a double 75 ps laser pulse, a systematic study on keV emission from plasmas generated by different drive pulse configurations has been made. Significant changes in temperatures and relative abundances of the ionisation stages for different drive pulse configurations have been found with the help of numerical simulations.

Abstract:

Developments in collision-pumped X-ray lasers using a variety of pumping configurations made possible by the versatile VULCAN glass laser at the Central Laser Facility are described. Optimised pumping configurations for nickel-like ions in the QSS regime has lead to saturated outputs at wavelengths as low as 5.8 nm and CPA technology has enabled travelling wave pumping in the TCE regime to deliver saturated output at 12.0 nm, from nickel-like tin. New directions, stemming from availability of more intense pumps and brighter XRLs are discussed briefly.