Generation of Intense X-Ray Laser Radiation at 8 nm in Ni-like Nd Ions

Lasing in various Ni-like ions at the wavelengths below 10 nm has been demonstrated [1,2]. Achieving saturated amplification with the Ni-like ions is considered to be difficult compared with the Ne-like ions at longer wavelengths, since the plasma parameter space for amplification is narrower with the Ni-like ions [3]. In this paper we report generation of very intense x-ray laser radiation at 8 nm in Ni-like Nd ions by amplification using double curved targets. This result shows that it will be possible to achieve saturated amplification in Ni-like ions by properly optimizing the irradiation conditions and target configurations.