Study of fast capillary discharge plasma columns for soft x-ray amplifiers

摘要

The efficient generation, by a fast discharge, of capillary plasma channels containing Ne-like and Ni-like ions for collisionally excited soft-x-ray lasers is reported. Rapid pulse excitation of capillary channels 1.5 mm in diameter with currents of less than 70 kA produced Ca and Ti plasmas in which atoms are ionized up to the F-like state. Line emission at the wavelengths corresponding to the 3p - 3s and 3d - 3p transitions of Ne-like Ca has been observed.