US4704718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for generating soft X-ray lasing action in a confined plasma column through the use of a picosecond laser
Assignee: Princeton University
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Filing: 1985-11-01
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Granted: 1987-11-03
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Expires: 2005-11-01
Abstract
Abstract Soft X-ray lasing action may be obtained by focusing a high power, picosecond laser pulse on a confined plasma column. The plasma column is created by focusing a CO 2 laser pulse on a target such as carbon. A strong cylindrical magnetic field contains the plasma and causes it to assume the shape of a column. While the plasma column is cooling rapidly due to radiation losses, a second high power laser with a duration time of approximately 1 picosecond is focused along the central part of the plasma column. The powerful picosecond laser provides strong selective excitation of the ions for enhancement population inversion and the creation of high gain for X-ray lasing action. According to alternative embodiments, other multi-Z elements such as molybdenum, aluminum and krypton can be used to create a lasing medium in the plasma column.
Inventors
- 👤 Szymon Suckewer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:48
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21B; G21B1/00; G21B1/11; G21B1/23; H; H01; H01S; H01S4/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for generating soft X-ray lasing action comprising: a target; first laser means for producing a first laser beam for interacting with said target and for generating a plasma having ions therein; magnetic field means for confining said plasma and shaping it substantially into the form of a column; second laser means for producing a second laser beam having a pulse duration less than 2 picoseconds and a power in excess of 10 15 w/cm 2 for interacting with said plasma column to provide strong selective excitation of said ions to create population inversion and gain for soft X-ray lasing action.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for generating soft X-ray lasing action comprising: a target; first laser means for producing a first laser beam for interacting with said target and for generating a plasma having ions therein; magnetic field means for confining said plasma and shaping it substantially into the form of a column; second laser means for producing a second laser beam having a pulse duration less than 2 picoseconds and a power in excess of 10 15 w/cm 2 for interacting with said plasma column to provide strong selective excitation of said ions to create population inversion and gain for soft X-ray lasing action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse duration of said second laser beam is approximately in the range of 1-2 picoseconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first laser beam has a pulse duration in the range of 10 to 100 nanoseconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: control means for controlling said second laser means so that said second laser beam interacts with said plasma column between 20 and 100 nanoseconds after said plasma was generated by said first laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnetic field means creates a magnetic field having a strength of approximately B=100 KGauss.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plasma column is approximately 1 millimeter in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said ions in said plasma column at least one member selected from the group consisting of C, O and Ne.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said ions in said plasma column comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ar, Kr and Mo.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first laser means comprising a CO 2 laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ions comprise ions of carbon.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for generating soft X-ray lasing action comprising the steps of: generating a first laser beam; creating a plasma having ions therein by impinging said first laser beam on a target; generating a magnetic field to confine said plasma and shape said plasma substantially into the form of a column; generating a second laser beam having a pulse duration less than 2 picoseconds and power in excess of 10 15 W/cm 2 ; and, interacting said second laser beam with said plasma column to provide strong selective excitation of said ions to create population inversion and gain for soft X-ray lasing action.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for generating soft X-ray lasing action comprising the steps of: generating a first laser beam; creating a plasma having ions therein by impinging said first laser beam on a target; generating a magnetic field to confine said plasma and shape said plasma substantially into the form of a column; generating a second laser beam having a pulse duration less than 2 picoseconds and power in excess of 10 15 W/cm 2 ; and, interacting said second laser beam with said plasma column to provide strong selective excitation of said ions to create population inversion and gain for soft X-ray lasing action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: cooling said plasma column by radiation cooling prior to the step of interacting said second laser beam with said plasma column.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said first laser beam has a pulse duration in the range of 10 to 100 nanoseconds and a power of approximately 1.5 KJoules.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said ions are formed from material comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of C, O, and Ne.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said ions are formed from material comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ar, Kr and Mo.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said first laser beam is generated by a CO 2 laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said ions are carbon ions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4058486A
Cited
US4201955A
Cited
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