DYNAMICS OF A MULTIPLE-PULSE-DRIVEN X-RAY LASER-PLASMA

In this paper we describe experimental and computational studies of mu ltiple-pulse-driven laser plasma, which is the gain medium for a neon- like yttrium x-ray laser. Near-field emission profiles have been measu red both with and without reinjection of the x-ray laser photons to co uple with the amplifying medium created by later pulses using an exter nal multilayer mirror. From the temporal and spatial evolution of the near-field emission profiles we can examine the pulse-to-pulse variati on of the x-ray laser plasma due to changes in the hydrodynamics, lase r deposition, and the injecting of x-ray laser photons back into an am plifying x-ray laser plasma. Using a combination of radiation hydrodyn amics, atomic kinetics, and ray propagation codes, reasonable agreemen t has been obtained between simulations and the experimental results. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.