INVESTIGATION OF A SHORT-WAVELENGTH LASER-PLASMA OF A GAS-LINER PINCHDISCHARGE

We studied the axial homogeneity of a gas-liner pinch plasma where amp lification of line radiation at short wavelengths had been reported in an earlier study. For this purpose we measured temporally and axially resolved the Stark-broadened n=5 to n=4 transitions in F VII. From th e linewidth electron densities are deduced employing spectral line sha pe calculations which are tested by Thomson scattering. We observe sig nificant plasma inhomogeneities produced by Rayleigh-Taylor instabilit ies. Density gradients of delta n(e)/n(e) approximate to 3 along the p lasma axis on a scale length of z<1 mm were found. They arise when com pressing large amounts of a heavy gas (fluorine) of 5-10% total gas de nsity in the discharge with a hydrogen pusher for short-wavelength las er studies. Reducing their amount to about 1% of the total gas density results in homogeneous discharges. In this case no amplification can be observed.