INTENSE NICKEL-LIKE NEODYMIUM X-RAY LASER AT 7.9 NM WITH A DOUBLE-CURVED-SLAB TARGET

We have demonstrated triple-pulse lasing combined with an X-ray mirror with 4 pumping pulses in Ni-like Nd at 7.9 nm. Intense triple-pulse X -ray laser radiation has been generated with a double-curved-slab targ et, which was irradiated with laser pulses of quasi-traveling wave con figuration, using cylindrical lens arrays for uniform pumping. An orde r of magnitude higher X-ray laser pulse energy was observed along the forward-traveling wave direction compared to the backward-traveling wa ve direction. Output energy in the forward direction was estimated to be similar to 40 mu J.