SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE EFFICIENCY AND BRIGHTNESS OF THE J=0-1 19.6-NM LINE OF THE GERMANIUM LASER BY USE OF DOUBLE-PULSE PUMPING

Abstract

We describe significant improvement in the efficiency and brightness of the J = 0-1 19.6-nm line of the neonlike germanium laser. A curved slab target was irradiated by two laser pulses of 100-ps duration separated by 300 ps with a total energy of 200-300 J on target. Compared with that obtained by 1-ns single-pulse pumping with 1.1 kJ of energy, the J = 0-1 line has a 12 times higher peak intensity, with a smaller beam divergence of 2 mrad, corresponding to a factor-of-25 improvement in brightness.