Abstract

The theoretical Z^7.5 dependence of the small-signal gain of plasma-recombination lasers on the ionization stage Z of the laser species implies a straightforward development of short-wavelength lasers but appears to be significantly experimentally achieved gain scaling. A new analysis, which incorporates a simple experimental parameter representing the efficiency of populating the upper level at a given plasma electron density, results in a gain scaling with ionization state (Z^4.5) that is more consistent with experiments and also reveals a need for better experimental control of the ion-production and electron–ion-recombination process when one attempts to make such lasers.

© 1983 Optical Society of America

Measured gain for XUV plasma lasers at varying pump intensities

R. H. Dixon, J. F. Seely, and R. C. Elton
Appl. Opt. 22(9) 1309-1312 (1983)

High -gain inner-shell photoionization laser in Cd vapor pumped by soft-x-ray radiation from a laser-produced plasma source

William T. Silfvast, John J. Macklin, and Obert R. Wood
Opt. Lett. 8(11) 551-553 (1983)

Recombination lasers in Nd and CO₂ laser-produced cadmium plasmas

W. T. Silfvast, L. H. Szeto, and O. R. Wood
Opt. Lett. 4(9) 271-273 (1979)

Short-wavelength laser calculations for electron pumping in carbonlike and heliumlike ions

L. J. Palumbo and R. C. Elton
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(4) 480-488 (1977)

Investigation of the gain anomaly of lithiumlike ion 3d–4f and 3d–5f lasers in a recombining silicon plasma

Ruxin Li, Zhengquan Zhang, Pinzhong Fan, and Zhizhan Xu
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 17(3) 481-486 (2000)