STUDY OF LASING IN LOW-Z NEON-LIKE IONS USING THE PREPULSE TECHNIQUE

We report strong lasing on the neon-like 3p(1)S(O) --> 3s(1)P(1) trans ition with wavelengths between 255 and 196 Angstrom when a low intensi ty prepulse is introduced before the main optical drive pulse of the 1 .315 mu m Asterix laser which illuminates slab targets of materials ra nging from iron to germanium the prepulse removed, this line is not vi sible except in the case of germanium where the use of the prepulse en hances the line at 196 Angstrom by two orders of magnitude. We also ob serve that ions with even-Z perform better than those with odd-Z, cons istent with hyperfine splitting broadening the laser linewidth and the reby reducing the gain for the odd-Z ions.