Towards Nitrogen Recombination Soft X-Ray Laser Scheme in a Capillary Discharge Z-Pinch

摘要

In recent years z-pinch configuration is considered for implementing a nitrogen recombination X-Ray Laser at l=13.4nm. The required plasma conditions at the pinch time are Te~140eV and Ne~1020cm~3. Lasing can occur after the plasma cools to Te<60eV, in a time scale of a few nanoseconds (<5nsec). A capillary discharge z-pinch apparatus was built (Imax~60kA, zy=70nsec), and examined by means of radiation measurements with filtered X-Ray diode (XRD) By using different filters it is possible to identify the emission from He-like and H-like nitrogen. We show that at the pinch time the electron temperature is well above 80eV, and the total cooling period, to Te<60eV, is shorter than 5nsec. Future complementary XRD and spectroscopic measurements are being planned.