Performances of Ne-like Ar Soft X-ray Laser using Capillary Z-Pinch Discharge

We have designed, fabricated and tested a soft X-ray device, which uses a capillary discharge to achieve neon-like argon lasing. The ceramic capillary has an inner diameter of 3 mm and a length of 150 mm. Lasing has been confirmed when operating the device with a current of 9 to 32 kA with a rise time of 55 ns, in an argon gas pressure range from 100 to 800 mTorr. The relation between the observation of the laser spike and occurrence of the moving striation has been studied by a series of side-view observations. The appropriate starting time of the main discharge with respect to that of the predischarge current has been studied. When the predischarge is properly applied, constant laser amplification of the gain-length product of gl=12 (g=0.8 cm-1) was obtained, with a current of 32 kA at a pressure of 400 mTorr.