ANALYSIS OF THE RESONANTLY PHOTOPUMPED NA-NE X-RAY-LASER SCHEME

This paper analyzes the resonantly photopumped Na-Ne x-ray-laser scheme that has been studied experimentally on Z pinches for the last five years. By modeling as an x-ray source the Na Z-pinch output obtained on the Saturn generator experiments at Sandia National Laboratories, the time-dependent properties of the Ne lasant are studied. Our model yields a maximum gain, approximately 0.2 cm-1, with a full width at half maximum duration of 18.5 ns, on the 4f --> 3d transition at 231 angstrom under the conditions of the Saturn experiments. We investigate the effects of varying parameters such as the ion density of the Ne lasant and the linewidth of the Na pump line. The impact of radiation trapping on the gain of the various laser lines is considered in a one-dimensional slab geometry.