Gain Saturation Regime for Laser-Driven Tabletop, Transient Ni-Like Ion X-Ray Lasers

J. Dunn; Y. Li; A. L. Osterheld; J. Nilsen; J. R. Hunter; V. N. Shlyaptsev

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4834

Gain Saturation Regime for Laser-Driven Tabletop, Transient Ni-Like Ion X-Ray Lasers

J. Dunn, Y. Li, A. L. Osterheld, J. Nilsen, J. R. Hunter, and V. N. Shlyaptsev

Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4834 – Published 22 May 2000

Abstract

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 Å 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 Å. Gain of $62 {cm}^{- 1}$ and gL product of 18 are determined on the $4 d \to 4 p$ transition for Ni-like Pd at 147 Å with an output energy of $12 μ J$ . 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.

Received 3 December 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4834

Authors & Affiliations

J. Dunn¹, Y. Li^2,*, A. L. Osterheld¹, J. Nilsen¹, J. R. Hunter¹, and V. N. Shlyaptsev³

¹Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
²Institute for Laser Science and Applications, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
³Department of Applied Science, University of California Davis-Livermore, Livermore, California 94550