Design of the Ni-like Ag x-ray laser at 13.9 nm.

The Ni-like Ag x-ray laser at 13.9 nm (4d→4p, J=0→1) is numerically studied, using a one-dimensional hydrodynamic code coupled with an atomic physics code. The effects of the drive laser intensity, pulse duration, and delay time on the performance of the Ni-like Ag x-ray laser are investigated. A saturated x-ray laser output could possibly be generated for a short plasma length under the optimized drive pulse configuration. The analysis of the plasma conditions, including the evolution of gain in time and space, the electron temperature and the electron density, contribute to further understanding of the process of Ni-like x-ray lasers. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]