Preplasma conditions for operation of 10Hz subjoule femtosecond-laser-pumped nickel-like x-ray lasers

Riccardo Tommasini, Klaus Eidmann, Tetsuya Kawachi, and Ernst E. Fill
Phys. Rev. E 69, 066404 – Published 4 June 2004

Abstract

We present measurements of electron densities of plasmas with femtosecond (fs) temporal resolution. The plasmas are generated by laser pulses with different intensities at different time delays. Such plasmas are of great interest as preplasmas for transient, collisionally excited x-ray lasers. The laser pulses producing the plasmas are generated by stretching part of a 130fs laser pulse of the ATLAS titanium-sapphire laser of our institute and focusing this radiation to a line on molybdenum and silver slab targets. The electron density is measured as a function of distance from the target by interferometry using a Wollaston prism. Using an ultrashort probe pulse allows one to obtain data extremely close, about 10μm, to the target surface. Experimental data are compared with simulations using the MULTI hydrocode. The results allow comparison of the ablation from a hard (Mo) and a soft (Ag) material, optimization of prepulse-main pulse delay times, and selection of the best pump geometry allowing for propagation of the pump and x-ray beams. These points are key elements for the development of a high-repetition-rate soft-x-ray laser.

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  • Received 13 October 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.69.066404

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Riccardo Tommasini*, Klaus Eidmann, Tetsuya Kawachi, and Ernst E. Fill

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching, Germany

  • *Corresponding author. Email address: riccardo.tommasini@mpq.mpg.de
  • On leave from Advanced Photon Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan.

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Issue

Vol. 69, Iss. 6 — June 2004

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