Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS)

Abstract:

Calculations of the modal photon densities and gain in a photopumped Cl XVII-Se XXXII X-ray laser are presented. In this paper we undertake a realistic simulation of the generation of both Cl and Se plasmas, using a high-power optical laser, which includes radiation from both Ly-α fine-structure components of H-like Cl pumping the 2p3/2-5d5/2 transition in Li-like Se. The calculations are performed in two dimensions in a realistic geometry taking into account plasma gradients. This gives information about the spatial extent and time evolution of X-ray lasing gain on the 5-4 transitions (39.5 Å) in Li-like Se. We find that gain (about 200 cm^-1) is expected only when the optical laser includes a pre-pulse. Calculations show that the absorption of pumping radiation in the pumped plasma can reduce the gain by 20%. Time-dependent calculations have shown that the gain is reduced by 30% in comparison to the steady-state calculations. The effect of the spectral profile and self-radiation of 5d5/2-2p3/2 transition in Li-like Se reduces the gain by about 2%. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

The results of the first experimental demonstration of a short-wavelength laser driven within a gas-filled capillary-discharge waveguide were described. The xenon gas was mixed with the hydrogen and strong lasing on the 4d ⁹5d-4d⁹5p transition in Xe⁸⁺ at 41.8 nm was observed. Analysis shows that lasing was strongly correlated with good guiding of the pump pulse and numerical simulations indicate that gain is likely to have been achieved over a significant fraction of the 30 mm length of the capillary. The success of this proof-of-principle experiment suggests that this and other short-wavelength lasers could be driven within waveguides of this type, leading to increased energy output and reduced beam divergence.

Abstract:

We present the status of optical field ionization soft X-ray lasers. The amplifying medium is generated by focusing a high-energy circularly polarized 30-fs 10-Hz Ti: sapphire laser system in a gaseous medium. Using xenon or krypton, strong laser emission at 41.8 and 32.8 nm, respectively, has been observed. After presenting the basis of the physics, we present recent characterization of the sources as well as dramatic improvement of their performances using the waveguiding technique.