XUV-AMPLIFICATION IN AN ARGON Z-PINCH PLASMA

Amplification of XUV radiation of the 3p-3s transitions at 46.9 and 67 .1 nm with a gain-length product of 2.4 and 2.6 has been observed in a n argon z-pinch plasma. The amplification was demonstrated by varying the discharge length between 40 and 120 mm. A temporal resolved measur ement of the gain coefficient is presented here that shows a gain of > 0.15 cm(-1) for a duration of more than 40 ns with a peak value of 0. 2 cm(-1) for the 46.9 nm line. The plasma was generated in a fast z-pi nch discharge driven by a 200 kV three-stage Marx-generator. The disch arge current in the alumina insulator tube with a diameter of 7 mm was 40 kA. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.