Abstract

Two promising methods of pumping plasma x-ray lasers, namely, matched-line photoexcitation and electron-collisional excitation, are reviewed from a spectroscopic viewpoint. For the former, numerous possible elements are listed, and a recently obtained experimental spectrum for a most promising sodium–neon test case is presented. For the second, progress in electron-collisional excitation pumping of Δn = 0 laser transitions is reviewed along with electron-recombination pumping of Δn = 1 laser transitions, and a novel synergistic system is proposed for enhanced recombination pumping in 1s²2s²2p^q sequence ions. The accumulation of consistent data and the availability of the necessary supporting atomic and spectroscopic information result in continued optimism that, with a truly dedicated effort, useful gain can be achieved on a reasonable time scale.

© 1984 Optical Society of America

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