Transmission of laser radiation through microcapillary plasmas

Propagation of laser radiation through a plasma, created in microcapillarie s, has been investigated under various experimental conditions, which are c losely related to x-ray laser development. It has been shown that the absor ption of laser radiation in a microcapillary plasma depends on the microcap illary diameter as well as on the laser parameters and provides a good lead for the process of optimization of the soft-x-ray gain generation. Real-ti me nonintrusive plasma probing with a low-intensity He-Ne laser beam has al so been performed. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(00)02005 -1]. OCIS codes: 140.7240, 230.7380, 300.6560.