Abstract. X-ray laser output at 23.1 nm and the intensity of resonance line and continuum emission between 0.6 and 1.8 nm emitted from a nickel plasma are simulated using a fluid and atomic physics program. The simulations are undertaken for the conditions of a recent experiment using a Nd:glass laser with a ~1.2 ps pulse at 7 × 10¹⁵ W cm⁻² irradiance pumping a plasma pre-formed by a 280 ps duration pulse at 2 × 10¹³ W cm⁻² with peak-to-peak pulse separation usually set at 300 ps. The simulated duration of x-ray lasing (~12 ps) agrees with the measured laser duration and the temporal output of continuum and resonance lines is in agreement with measurements made using a streak camera.

Print publication: Issue 20 (28 October 2003)
Received 3 June 2003
Published 9 October 2003