Process and device for the production of soft X-ray laser radiation in an enclosed plasma column using a picosecond laser.

摘要

Soft X-ray lasing action may be obtained by focusing a high power, picosecond laser pulse on a confined plasma column. The plasma column is created by focusing a CO2 laser pulse on a target such as carbon. A strong cylindrical magnetic field contains the plasma and causes it to assume the shape of a column. While the plasma column is cooling rapidly due to radiation losses, a second high power laser with a duration time of approximately 1 picosecond is focused along the central part of the plasma column. The powerful picosecond laser provides strong selective excitation of the ions for enhancement population inversion and the creation of high gain for X-ray lasing action. According to alternative embodiments, other multi-Z elements such as molybdenum, aluminum and krypton can be used to create a lasing medium in the plasma column.