DEMONSTRATION OF SOFT-X-RAY LASING WITH NEON-LIKE ARGON AND NICKEL-LIKE XENON IONS USING A LASER-IRRADIATED GAS PUFF TARGET

We report the first demonstration of soft x-ray amplification in an el ongated plasma column produced by laser irradiation of a gas puff targ et. The gas puff target is formed by the pulsed injection of gas from a high-pressure solenoid valve through a nozzle in the form of a narro w slit. The plasma column to be used as an x-ray laser active medium i s produced by irradiating the gas puff target with a high power laser beam focused to a line. Lasing in neonlike argon at 46.9 nm and strong indications of lasing in nickel-like xenon at 10.0 nm were observed.