Lasing at 139 in nickel-like silver plasmas

Today, one of the key applications for X-ray Lasers is ICF-relevant plasma density diagnostics through interferometry techniques. Due to the peak reflectivity of the involved Mo/Si multilayer optics, the CEA/DAM studies have been focused on collisionally excited population inversions in Ni-like silver plasmas. In order to optimize their X-ray output at 139 Angstrom, various configurations have been investigated. One of them has recently been demonstrated at the P102 facility and has allowed 1011 photons per pulse to be delivered, i.e. 2 μJ in 7 ps. (author)